Police have arrested PSM lawmaker Dr Michael Jayakumar and scores of farmers as well as activists for protesting outside the Perak Menteri Besar office this afternoon.

The farmers, who are battling eviction, had gathered there in a last ditch effort to meet Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir after failing to secure an appointment despite trying for almost four months.

Among those arrested were PSM secretary-general A Sivarajan, PSM deputy chairperson M Sarasvathy, central committee member S Arutchelvan and PSM Youth chief KS Bawani.

The over 300 angry demonstrators had brought an assortment of bananas, coconuts and vegetables and placed them outside the state secretariat building in protest of the menteri besar's refusal to meet them despite being instructed to do so by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

When contacted, the farmers' coalition coordinator K Segar confirmed the mass arrests, adding that they were being taken to Sungai Senam police station in Ipoh.

Segar said the farmers had gathered as early as 9.30am outside the menteri besar's office but was finally informed at 2.30pm that Zambry would not meet them.

He added that Zambry's press secretary told the group to provide their contact details and an appointment would be fixed for next week.

Refused to budge

Segar pointed out that in the group's previous meeting with Najib's special officer, it was revealed that Najib had in a letter dated April 21 instructed Zambry to meet them.

"On June 17, we met the menteri besar's media officer to submit Najib's letter and the officer promised to convey it to the menteri besar but there was eventually no response," he said.

He added the group had submitted no less than eight memorandums to Zambry since 2014 asking that he intervene in land issues faced by farmers throughout Perak.

Segar said after being snubbed by the menteri besar today, they refused to budge and sat at the entrance of the state secretariat building prompting police to arrest them.

He said the protesters today were farmers from Bidor, Sungkai, Tapah, Ipoh, Batu Gajah and Sungai Siput who were facing various eviction issues in their areas.

He added that a total of 24 areas with a size of over 10,000 acres was affected.