Two men were arrested this morning when the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) and police raided their protest camp at Dataran Merdeka, the iconic public square in the city centre.

Social activist Fahmi Reza and student Umar Mohd Azmi were hauled in for illegally occupying the square and obstructing police.

NONE They were released later this evening, but both face legal consequences that begin as early as tomorrow.

Earlier, according to eyewitness and supporter Wong Tay Sy, 27, a huge contingent of DBKL and police officers surrounded the campsite, seized the tents and loaded them into a City Hall truck at about 8 am.

"They waited for us to wake up and took away 61 out of 62 of our tents. We are only left with food, drinks and a recycled bunting,” she told Malaysiakini . “Only one or two of the police were in uniform.”

The 40 DBKL and police personnel were more than doubled the number of protesters, said Wong, who has been camping there since Friday night.

She said that the two arrested were "dragged into an unmarked van" by about two or three men each.

NONE "Fahmi kept on asking if he was arrested but they did not answer. He is now at the Dang Wangi police station," she said, adding that the operation was over in 10 minutes.

Two protestors have gone to the station to check on their friends while the rest have collectively decided to stay put at Dataran.

"We are appealing for more people to join us and help us with supplies," she said.

Day 8 of Dataran occupation

This is the eighth day of the student protest for free education. They share the space with the Occupy Dataran movement - a movement to reclaim public spaces.

The students, who are demanding the abolition of PTPTN (Higher Education Loan Fund), as well as the Occupy Dataran activists, decamped yesterday to make way for a royal concert held in Dataran last night.

While the Occupy Dataran activists re-established their camp late last night after the concert, the students are expected to return today.

NONE When contacted, Fahmi ( right ) who is still held at the police station, said while DBKL officers took away the tents this morning, the police officers had demanded to speak to him personally.

"I was sitting down... the police said they wanted to talk to me but I told them to let me discuss with my friends first, he then started to grab my hand.

"I asked if I was arrested, they then grabbed me and arrested me without giving me any reason," he said.

Another Dataran occupier, Umar who approached the police to question why Fahmi was arrested, was also detained by police.

The DBKL officers involved in the operation are also at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

Illegal structures

Meanwhile, at a press conference later, Occupy Dataran activist Lew Pik Svonn said Umar was being detained under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants from performing their duties.

NONE "He is also accused of violating Section 4 of DBKL by-laws for illegally erecting structures," she said.

Is is unclear which law was used to detain Fahmi, who was released hours later.

She also claimed that a DBKL officer had assaulted Umar while attempting to arrest him.

Lew said their lawyers have been informed that the police are also planning to separate the arrested duo by shipping off Umar to the Jinjang district police station.

The raid and arrest come just hours after DBKL returned the occupiers' belongings which was temporarily stored on their struck in order not to obstruct the royal concert last night.

NONE According to another activist, Dianne Tahir, when the items were returned at around 11pm, DBKL officers also issued a summon to Fahmi for illegally setting up tents at Dataran Merdeka however it did not specify the compound amount.

Close to an estimated RM5,000 worth of items including equipments, tents, raincoats, toiletries were confiscated, she added.

"But they left some food behind for us," she added.

Duo out on bail

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said in a statement issued this afternoon that Fahmi was arrested for allegedly refusing to comply with DBKL’s instructions to decamp; whereas Umar had “acted aggressively” by “pulling the hand and pushing the shoulder” of enforcement officers while defending Fahmi.

NONE He said Fahmi is being investigated under Section 40 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1975 and has been released on bail.

“Whereas the second arrest (Umar) will be allowed bail after his statement is taken and he will be asked to be present before Jalan Duta Court on April 23,” he said.

Returning to Dataran this evening after his release, Fahmi said the police had intended to remand Umar for a longer period but the court did not oblige.

"He was brought to Jinjang police station as police tried to seek for longer remand, but it was turned down by the Magistrate Court.

"They were forced to take his statement today and released him on bail at 6pm," said the coordinator of the grassroots assembly movement Occupy Dataran.

NONE The morning incident does not seem to have deterred students who have been protesting against the PTPTN scheme since last Saturday, who were seen along with activists, totalling 50 in all, busily re-establishing their tents and preparing food.

Fahmi said he will propose to the group which he dubbed the "people assembly" later tonight to support Umar at the KL Court Complex in Jalan Duta at 9am tomorrow, and to set up a fund to cover his legal expenses.

"Umar was not even part of the anti-PTPTN movement. He was arrested because he believed in the rights to assembly," he said.

Fahmi, meanwhile said he is likely to be charged in May but has not received the date from the police.

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Additional reports by Leven Woon.