Tourists have been alerted - by a group of flash mobsters today at the iconic KLCC - that Malaysia is a land of draconian laws.

The gathering of 20 had made a spectacle when protesting the one-year commemoration of the first arrest made under the Security Offences (Special Measure) Act 2012 (Sosma), when former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat and two others had been detained.

"Welcome to Malaysia, the land of draconian laws - this is the theme for today’s protest," said Suaram coordinator Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab ( left ) during his speech when several tourists and shoppers were spotted curiously observing the mob.

The protest was organised by Suaram - supported by both Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) and Angkatan Pembebasan Bangsa Malaysia (APBM) - as a warm-up to a campaign named 'People Protest Detention Without Trial' where some larger-scale protests and forums are scheduled to be held.

"We fear that the people will forget we still have draconian laws (in the country).

"(Now) they just remember price hikes and the Kajang by-election," he added.

Beside Sosma, he noted, the Dangerous Drug Act as well as the Prevention of Crime Act also enable law enforcement to detain people without trial.

The half-an-hour protest had angered a young man in green shirt into shouting that such a flashmob has caused the country's embarrassment with foreigners watching.

The man marched to the staircase of the shopping mall outside of which the participants were standing where both sides exchanged angry words in rapid-fire fashion.

However, a police officer nearby was fast to swing into action, and escorted the angry man from the scene.

Later, Ahmad Syukri denied that their act had caused the country's embarrassment, but had given the foreigners an opportunity to observe democracy being practised in civil society.

He, however, sarcastically added that the country does not lack shameful news at the international stage and gave the example of  French media reports on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over a submarine deal.

The flashmobsters were holding up placards reading: "ISA/Sosma, acts inherited from colony", "Sosma kills human rights", "Abolish Sosma, DDA and Poca".

Though the police, both in plainclothes and uniform, and security personnel nearly outnumbered the group and tried on few occasions to stop them, they continued with the protest, undeterred.

The protest ended with the group singing four patriotic songs of  the 40s, including 'Darah Rakyat' and an anti-Suharto song from Indonesia, 'Darah Juang'.