Young activist nabbed over Bersih posters

A Penang Suaram volunteer putting up Bersih 3.0 sit-in notices in Universiti Sains Malaysia grounds early this morning has been whisked off to the nearest police station.

According to Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow’s office staff Ng Eng Kiat, the 21-year-old youth was reportedly stopped by a USM campus security guard between 2am and 3am while he was going about his task.

The youth, Tan Hong Kai (left), is a former Han Chiang College student, now a volunteer with Suaram Penang.
This appears to be the first case of a run-in with the police over Bersih 3.0 posters.

The security personnel - known only as Saiful - then brought him to the Sungai Nibong police station, said Ng, who at press time is waiting for Tan to be released.

"He's been here (at the station) for about two hours already (since 3am), but he has not been arrested (yet). He has not been questioned either," Ng told Malaysiakini at 5.54am.

"The campus security guard, however, is lodging a police report against Tan. We are still waiting to take Hong Kai home," he added.

At 6pm, Ng was still unable to get his friend out of the station, nor would the police personnel on duty reveal further information about the matter.

Malaysiakini has failed to obtain a response from the police on duty.

Hisham: Not a security threat

This incident follows Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's (right) statement that the sit-in planned for April 28 at Dataran Merdeka is not a "security threat, as it has little traction with the people".

Bersih, the coalition for free and fair elections, is organising a rally in Kuala Lumpur following the failure of the Election Commission to implement the coalition's eight demands after the massive rally last July 9.

Supporters in 33 cities worldwide plan to organise solidarity sit-ins on the same day to call for clean and fair elections.

Joining the KL rally is anti-Lynas group Himpunan Hijau, that successfully held a rally attended by thousands in Kuantan earlier this year.

Meanwhile when contacted, lawyer Tham Shien Shyong said Tan is to be probed under Penal Code section 447 for criminal trespassing.

In section 441, it is defined as: “Whoever enters into or upon property in the possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property; or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person, or with intent to commit an offence".

According to Suaram in a statement this morning, Tan has since been transferred to IPD Timur Laut.

Appealing for public support against Tan’s detention, Suaram executive director E Nalini said, “Malaysia has already an atrocious international record on democracy and human rights and it should not join the ranks of rogue countries universally regarded as most notorious and infamous for their reckless disregard for the most basic human rights - human dignity and life.”