A Keadilan leader was arrested this evening when more than 100 police officers, including those from the Federal Reserve Unit, stopped a group of the party members from holding a barbeque gathering at Shah Alam.

Keadilan Shah Alam deputy chief, Raja Kamaruddin Raja Wahid was arrested when he insisted o­n entering the venue of the barbeque, which was the house of Keadilan Selangor Youth chief SD Mohd Johari Yassin.

According to Keadilan supreme council member Dr A Xavier Jayakumar, the police, led by OCPD Paramasivam, stopped the planned barbeque session as "they were informed we were going to hold a big assembly and ceramah (political speech)".

"We are o­nly 15 people here. Originally we wanted to visit the family of recent ISA detainee Abdul Manaf Kasmuri. His house is also somewhere near here. After that we had planned to come back here for our small barbeque gathering".

"However, when we arrived at Mohd Johari's house at about 5pm, we found that the police had already surrounded the entire vicinity, manning road-blocks and checking passing cars. They also did not allow anyone of us to enter into the house," Xavier told malaysiakini .

Abdul Manaf, a former army officer, was arrested under the Internal Security Act at his house last Thursday for suspected links to terrorist Jemaah Islamiah group.

"Higher instruction"

Xavier added that Mohd Johari had explained to the police that they were there for the barbeque and that it was being held in a private compound.

However, the police did not budge and refused entry to those who had come to enjoy the barbeque.

It was at this point Raja Kamaruddin insisted o­n entering into Mohd Johari's house and was immediately arrested and put into a police car.

He was later sent to the Klang police station. Klang police confirmed the arrest but refused to say the reasons for the arrest.

"We asked the police o­n what powers they were acting in that manner. Their answer was that they had higher instructions that they have to follow," Xavier said.

Under section 27 of the Police Act, police are empowered to stop activities that take place in a private location if they deem that the activities may be prejudicial to national security interests.

Meanwhile Badaruddin Ismail from human rights group Suaram said that the police were also refusing anyone from visiting Abdul Manaf's family.

"This is a total intimidation of the family. This is a scare tactic. The police don't want the family to be in contact with anyone who may be able to help them to fight the use of ISA against Abdul Manaf," said Badaruddin.