Fourteen people, including Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar, were arrested this morning for protesting outside the building that houses the Perak legislative assembly in Ipoh.

They were demanding plots of land promised them by the Mentri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir in return for vacating the site they have been occupying in Kampung DBI, Buntong.

Among those arrested were several squatters and activists from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and the Human Rights Party (HRP).

The police moved in after the protestors refused to budge, despite being ordered to disperse.

Several activists, including HRP's Perak chief A Ramesh, were allegedly manhandled and beaten by the cops before being arrested.

Ipoh police chief Azisman Alias said this was an "illegal assembly" under Section 27 of the Police Act.

PSM coordinator R Rani ( left ) told Malaysiakini that representatives of the squatters had sent countless memoranda and letters to the menteri besar's office, to no effect.

She said most of the squatters were former workers with the Ipoh City Council and had built their houses near the government quarters in Kampung DBI.

"They have been appealing for small plots of land for 14 years and every menteri besar has promised to solve their problem,” said Rani.

"This menteri besar (Zambry) had given an assurance that all squatter areas and housing problems in Perak will be resolved... and that squatters living in the area for more than 10 years will be given automatic land ownership.”

‘Resident died after bitten by a snake’

Rani informed reporters that several abandoned government projects in the area surrounding Kampung DBI are infested by snakes and a man had died after being bitten last month.

“We were forced to take this to the streets because they were not giving us any serious attention,” she said.

“Is this the menteri besar’s tactic to force us off the land and sell it of to developers?” she asked.

She explained that the squatters had set up their homes with the permission of DBI quarters management in 1986 and when the state government had tried to evict them in 1997, they proceeded to apply for plots of land.

“We have written to the state many times but there hasn’t been any response that could solve our problem,” she complained.

About 40 police personnel including a dozen from the Light Strike Force (LSF) unit were seen fending off the demonstrators from coming into the state secretariat building.

The protestors demanded that at least 10 representatives meet with the menteri besar to hand over the memorandum, and refused to negotiate for a lesser number.

Officers from the menteri besar’s office refused to allow more than three at first, and then later agreed to admit five. However, the protesters declined and insisted that Zambry leave the assembly sitting to meet them on the street.

Armed with placards and banners with slogans - “We want our land”, “Fulfill your promise”, “ Janji hak milik, datangnya ular ” - around 50 protestors continued to shout out their demands.

After issuing the warning to disperse at 11am, Ipoh criminal investigations department chief DSP Glenn Sinnapah again tried to convince the coordinators of the protest to send five representatives to meet Zambry.

But they refused to adhere to the command and continued with the protest. After 30 minutes, the police moved in and arrested Rani, Ramesh and Jeyakumar as well as several other residents.

The demonstration turned chaotic when the police tried to tug away banners and placards held by the protestors.

A group of women holding on to a large red banner that read - “ Menteri Besar kotakan kata bagi lot tanah untuk penduduk Kampung DBI ” - were seen in a tussle with several policemen who were trying to grab the banner.

“The protesters were stubborn and refused to follow orders. We had to use force against them because they refuse to obey,” said Azisman.

Those arrested were later released on police bail at 3pm.

Rights group Suaram condemned the arrests, which it said was an attack on the fundamental freedom of expression.

Citing injuries said to have been sustained by an HRP activist known only as 'Ramesh' and a reporter, Suaram said the police had "misused their power to arrested peoples by using force to disperse the crowd."

Ramesh has been taken to the hospital for treatment. A report will be lodged, said Suaram, over the police' alleged abuse of power in dispersing the gathering.