breaking news

Three reformasi leaders involved in organising a gathering to mark the sentencing of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim this Saturday were arrested by police today.

The arrests, believed to be under the Internal Security Act, began with reformasi activist and malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais who was detained at around 5pm at his office in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

He was taken away by plainclothes police officers in two vehicles.

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, also a key reformasi activist, was arrested at his office in Bangsar at 5.15pm.

Chairman of the Committee for the People's Memorandum of April 14, Saari Sungib, was arrested at his residence in Ampang.

When contacted at around 5.30pm, Saari told malaysiakini that a few policemen were waiting for him downstairs while he was getting dressed in his room.

According to sources close to Saari and Tian, both the reformasi leaders were detained under the ISA and were believed to have been taken to federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Under the Internal Security Act 1960, the Home Affairs Minister can order a person to be detained for a period not exceeding two years without trial as a preventive measure if the minister finds him to be a threat to national security.

Not signed

In an immediate reaction, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters in the Parliament lobby that he has not received any information about the arrests.

Abdullah, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said that he has not signed any orders for arrests under the ISA.

"Any recommendation for an ISA arrest must be approved by the Home Minister," he said.

When asked whether the police could arrest the reformasi activists first and later request an ISA detention, Abdullah said "no".

No warrant

Meanwhile, a source close to Tian said the Keadilan leader was detained at his office by a group of eight police officers.

"Tian asked for their warrant of arrest and was told by one DSP Lam that the police needed no warrant as the arrest was under the ISA," said the source. He added that Tian was driven away in a white Proton Wira with the registration number WHP 862.

Saari's wife Arliza Jaafar told malaysiakini that a nine-member police team arrived at their house at about 5.20pm looking for her husband.

"Saari was taking his bath upstairs and when he came down, an officer named Samsudin said they were arresting Saari under Section 8 of the ISA," she said

She said that the police also searched the contents of Saari's computer and the cabinets in the living room before taking away Saari in a white Proton Wira with the registration number WH 5331.