Alor Setar police nabbed 14 activists, mostly from PKR,  involved in the Bersih campaign at a coffee shop this morning

kedah pkr arrested by police bersih 020711 gooi hsiao leung The 11 men and three women, including Kedah PKR legal bureau chief Gooi Hsiao Leung, were arrested at about 9:20am for conspiring with Bersih campaigners who are planning a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

The police have described the yet-to-take place rally, as an "illegal assembly".

Police got wind that the group was planning to sell Bersih's yellow t-shirts at the Cowboy Market here and mounted roadblocks leading to the area by 8am; about 100 personnel stood guard outside the venue where the activists were to meet.

police arrest bersih in kedah Gooi, who contested in the Alor Setar parliamentary seat in 2008, was planning to hold a press conference to urge the police to reconsider the decision to ban the rally.

However, before he could speak, the police disrupted the event and held Gooi along with a few others.

A commotion ensued in the coffeeshop, filled with police personnel and journalists

Gooi, who was at that time,dragged by police out of the shop, shouted: "Tell us the charge first before arresting us...this is not democratic", but his plea was ignored.

Even Bersih related events illegal?

They are currently being detained at the Pusat Latihan Mentalon, Anak Bukit. Others arrested include state PKR leaders Fazil Shari, K. Naidu, Suraya Hashim, Asmalela Mohd Ghazali, Lee Kim Hock and councillor Leslie Daniel.

gooi drag to police van When contacted, Gooi ( left ) said the group is yet to be informed of the charge against them, despite an hour in detention.

"We were just about to start to talk to the press and the police swooped down upon us, this shocking and ridiculous," he said.

Meanwhile, Kedah police chief Ahmad Ibrahim said the detainees are being probed under Section 108 of the Penal Code.

The group is alleged to have been involved in abetting the Bersih rally considered unlawful by police.

kedah pkr arrested by police bersih 020711 02 Ahmad warned the public not to participate in the rallies or in any event related to Bersih.

"We are also monitoring all ceramah in the state. The police are out in full force," he told reporters.

"We will not compromise and will not hesitate to arrest anyone who defies the law," he added.

"If anyone wants to be stubborn and still participates in these events, please think twice," he stressed.