The DAP campaign team distributing "No to 929" leaflets in Seremban was given an unexpected and unwelcome "police escort" while on its rounds today.

The party's state deputy youth chief Anthony Loke said the team felt harassed by special branch officers and uniformed policemen as its members went about protesting the declaration that Malaysia is an Islamic state.

The group, led by Cheras member of parliament Tan Kok Wai, met at the market to distribute the leaflets and to hold a press conference.

Also present were central executive committee member P Gunasekaran, state secretary Liew Teck Kim and state treasurer Bascanadaf Kristnam.

"The police tried to stop us from distributing the leaflets, claiming these to be seditious. We asked them to point out which section of the law actually says this, but the police could not answer," Loke said.

Police and special branch personnel then maintained close watch over the group as they moved towards a nearby court complex where they sat in on a murder case that was being heard.

The "No to 929" campaign protests the Sept 29 declaration by prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Malaysia is an Islamic state, claiming this runs contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.

'No grounds for action'

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang led a simultaneous campaign in Kampar today. No action was taken against the team.

This was in contrast to the way Lim was treated yesterday in Port Dickson, when he and five state or branch leaders were arrested outside the wet market for distributing the leaflets.

It was the second time Lim had been arrested since the campaign began in May. He was first arrested on June 5 in Ipoh and released without being charged on police bail, which was revoked a month later.

Loke, who is also political secretary to party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, argued that the absence of arrests in Kampar or Seremban today proved that the police have no grounds for action against the campaign members in the first place. He said the arrests to date were unlawful.

Immediate decision needed

In a statement yesterday, Lim had registered "strong protest" against the second arrest. Although released without having to post bail this time, he said he could be arrested and prosecuted at any time under the Sedition Act 1948.

He said it was"deplorable" that he was only informed of the reason for arrest for violating section 4(i) of the Act only after he was taken to the police station in Port Dickson.

Lim, who called this another case of "arrest first, and look for the offence later", called on Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai to direct members of his force to stop harassing the DAP campaigners.

"Attorney-General Datuk Abdul Gani Patail should decide without any delay whether it is seditious to say 'No' to any attempt to change the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the 'social contract' and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement which declares that Islam is the official religion but Malaysia is not an Islamic state," he added.

The next stops on the campaign trail will be Batu Pahat and Taman Tun Aminah (Johor Baru) tomorrow and Taman Sentosa (Johor Baru) on Wednesday.