Two reformasi activists who were arrested for rioting outside the Kulim Magistrate's Court in Kedah last year were not charged today despite being summoned to court.

Nusratnajwani Mohamad, 22, who is unemployed and Saiful Bahrin Imran, 28, a landscape company manager were told by a policewoman that the case was postponed indefinitely.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience," said the policewoman.

Nusratnajwani and Saiful were arrested on Feb 18 last year outside the same courthouse for allegedly organising an illegal assembly.

They were there to lend their support to Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, who is currently detained at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak under the Internal Security Act.

Chua was then charged for allegedly causing a riot when he and others prevented bus loads of people believed to be "phantom voters" from entering Lunas during a by-election in Nov 2000.

Nusratajwani and Saiful were charged under Section 27A of the 1967 Police Act, which carries a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000 and an imprisonment term not exceeding one year.

The Kulim Magistrate's Court sat at 9am and adjourned at 10am for a half-hour coffee break before the duo's names were mentioned.

No reason given

However, before the session resumed at 10.30am, the two were told about the postponement of their case. No reason was given.

Majistrate Noor Hisham Ismail, who presided over the case, was not in the courthouse then.

Legal counsel for the duo, Mohideen Abdul Kadir, said the case has been postponed probably because consent from the deputy public prosecutor has not been sought.

He said such requirement was necessary under the Police Act.

But Nusratnajwani was fuming at the turn of events as she had travelled all the way from Kota Bahru alone to attend the session.

"It's a waste of my time and money. Why issue a summons when they are not sure whether they want to proceed with the case or not?" she queried.

"The case has dragged on for a long time and causing me much distress," she added.