DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua today challenged Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to demand the release of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

This was because Khairy had given an assurance that safeguards against abuse existed in the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) during the Dewan Rakyat debate on the Bill, Pua said.

Pua said Maria's arrest, for organising a peaceful rally demanding clean government and elections, showed the fears Khairy rubbished four years ago has materialised.