A PKR information bureau staff, who helps maintain the opposition party website, was taken for questioning by three plainclothes police officers this afternoon.

Nathaniel Tan, 26, was picked up from the office of a non-governmental organisation Yayasan Aman in Petaling Jaya, where he is based.

According to witnesses, the policemen did not provide any reasons as to why Tan was asked to go with them.

They said the policemen entered the office at about 4.45pm and requested for Tan to follow them to the Bukit Aman police headquarters for questioning.

The policemen also requested that Tan bring his notebook computer with him. It is believed that he is being questioned on matters relating to certain postings on the Internet.

Tan, a Harvard University graduate, has been involved in the maintenance of the opposition party's website and is also a prominent blogger .

According to a press statement by PKR, Tan also works in the Foundation for the Future as the secretary to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim who chairs the foundation.

'Intimidation tactics'

His lawyer Latheefa Koya told malaysiakini that according to a special branch officer known only as inspector William, there were no records of Tan being brought to Bukit Aman.

"We have also checked with Malaysian Control Centre (MCC) which is under the Bukit Aman to no avail. Instead, they advised us to make a police report," she said.

In an immediate response, PKR information chief Tian Chua said the incident was an attempt to intimidate party workers.

"This is very shocking and incredible that they are using this sort of intimidation tactics. We are extremely outraged," said Tian Chua, who is Tan's boss.

Tian Chua is currently being investigated for a blog posting , which was claimed to have violated the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The posting contained a photo montage purportedly depicting Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak dining with his political advisor Abdul Razak Baginda and slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

A police report has been filed on Tan's "kidnapping" this evening.

Police confirm Tan's detention

At 10pm, more than six hours after Tan's disappearance, the police finally confirmed that he was indeed being held by them.

His family and a group of 20 supporters have gathered outside the police headquarters to press for his release. A number of them were seen holding placards with words 'Where is Nathaniel?' and 'Free Nathaniel Now'.

According to the police, Tan was being held by the Cyber Crime Unit in Jalan Dato Onn to facilite investigation under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

At 10.30pm, Tan was transferred from there to Kuala Lumpur's Dang Wangi police station. He is expected to be brought before a magistrate for further remand tomorrow.

His supporters held a candlelight vigil outside the police station. By then, the crowd has swelled to about 40. Tian Chua ( left ), who was present tonight, lambasted the government of abusing its powers to curb freedom of speech.

Draconian act

It is not known exactly what OSA offence Tan is being investigated for. The police have also earlier brought Tan to his house to seize his desktop computer.

Anyone found guilty of committing an offence under the Act is punished with a mandatory jail sentence of least one year to a maximum of seven years. imprisonment.

According to international rights group Amnesty International, the OSA provides "vaguely worded definitions" of what constitutes an official secret.

"It gives the authorities wide powers to curb and impose penalties on the unauthorised publication of any information in the hands of the government, no matter how insignificant or whether such information is already in the public domain."

To add to the confusion over the circumstances of the arrest, Tian Chua said that Dang Wangi police officers had told him late tonight that Tan was being investigated under section 420 of the Penal Code.

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