Some 50 political activists, family and friends turned up at a candlelight vigil outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters last night to show their support for detained PKR webmaster Nathaniel Tan.

Tan, 26, who is being investigated for allegedly breaching the Official Secrets Act, was detained on Friday night. He has been remanded until tomorrow.

The group, which gathered for about two hours, sang hymns, songs and chanted slogans calling for his release.

" Bebaskan Nat! Bebaskan Nat! (Release Nat)," shouted the group under the watchful eyes of several uniformed and plainclothes policemen.

Also present were parishioners from the Kristus Aman Chapel of Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur. They sang gospels such as 'Amazing Grace' and 'Make Me a Channel of Your Peace'.

Not surprised

"The news came as a shock but not a surprise. Nat has always been involved in human rights work, he is a gentle person," said Tan's mother Sukumari Chitty ( right ) who was there with her husband Bob.

Meanwhile, rights group Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng said Tan always believed in doing the right thing.

Petaling Jaya South PKR division chief Aloysius Pinto described the detention as a shock.

"We call for his immediate and unconditional release. Nat has fully co-operated with the police, his detention is completely unnecessary, oppressive and degrading," he said when met at the sidelines of the vigil.

On Friday, the police obtained a four-day remand order after picking up Tan from Petaling Jaya. The police said that Tan is being investigated under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1972 in relation to some Internet postings.

It is believed that the postings were related to the recent corruption allegations againts Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum. The deputy minister has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Politically motivated

In a media statement, Tan's lawyer, R Sivarasa said the remand served no purpose "except to put Nat under duress."

He said, the police have taken documents, CDs and computers from Tan's office, house and car.

"If the remand is for investigation why continue to detain him, when he has given everything? This is a fishing expedition. There's clearly another agenda, behind this.

"This is purely an act of oppression. I want to go on record (to say) this detention is politically motivated," he said.

It is not clear whether the police will charge Tan for breaching the OSA when the remand order expires tomorrow or whether an extension will be sought.

If convicted, Tan will face a mandatory jail term of at least one year to a maximum of seven years.

Tan's arrest has been condemned by the Bar Council, Suaram, Centre for Independent Journalism and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

Another candlelight vigil will be held tonight at 8.30pm outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters. PKR's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is expected to be present as well.

Watch 4-minute video of vigil