In what now appears to be a nationwide crackdown, the police last night had arrested an activist in Penang for taking part in a peaceful candlelight vigil to show support for activist Wong Chin Huat who was arrested under the Sedition Act on Wednesday.

Georgetown police picked up human rights group Suaram member Ng Eng Kiat, 25, as the protesting group were leaving the place.

Earlier he was part of about 100 people - all wearing black - who had taken part in the peace protest.

penang candle light vigil arrest 080509 02 Ng's arrest in Penang was not an isolated incident. The police took similar actions in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching.

In Kuala Lumpur, 20 people, including five lawyers, were arrested for alleged illegal assembly by staging a candlelight vigil at the Brickfields police station in support of Wong.

Fourteen others were arrested the previous night for the same reasons.

And in Kuching, 10 people, including PKR's Padungan state assemblyperson Dominique Ng, were arrested for taking part in an alleged illegal assembly at the Kuching Waterfront when they lighted candles to observe a vigil for democracy in Perak.

Earlier in the day, 69 people, including 10 opposition elected representatives, were arrested in Ipoh for alleged illegal assembly and for breaching a police cordon to gather at the Perak state secretariat.

So far, all those arrested in Ipoh have been released. Those in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching are expected to be released soon as well.

Unwanted police intimidation

In Ng's case in Penang, he was quickly whisked away in a police car to the city police headquarters in Jalan Patani after he was arrested. He had been locked up overnight.

He was released this noon on police bail and must return to the police station in two weeks time.

It is learnt that he is being probed for taking part in illegal assembly and sedition.

penang candle light vigil arrest 080509 03 Apart from the arrest, the one-hour gathering, organised by Suaram, was peaceful and without any other untoward incidents.

Bukit Bendera parliamentarian Liew Chin Tong, Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Jason Ong and Suaram coordinator Lau Shu Shi were among the speakers at the vigil.

Ong condemned Ng's arrest, saying the intimidation by police was uncalled for.

Liew, in his speech earlier, said Wong's detention and the chaos at Perak legislature had painted a black picture on the country in the international arena.

penang candle light vigil arrest 080509 01 He said ‘Black Malaysia' was appropriate term to describe the current political situation in the country where the rule of law, natural justice and democracy were treated with disdain by those in power.

He called Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to fulfil his promise to create ‘One Malaysia' by asking the Perak palace to dissolve the state legislative assembly and pave way for fresh elections.

"So long this was not done, the Perak crisis will be Najib's political baggage," said Liew.

All those arrested were released today.