Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has described the raid on PKR's headquarters as a "barbaric display of power" by the authorities.

"It is unconstitutional and a gross abuse of power. It amounts to an attack on the opposition collectively.

"We hold the inspector-general of police and home minister responsible for this barbaric display of power and demand they stop their harassment," said Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president.

Yesterday, six police officers brought PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli - in police detention garb and barefooted - to his office at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

As Rafizi did not have the key to his office, the police broke down his door before seizing four computers, a copy of an internal party circular and a copy of the media statement Rafizi sent on the rally last week.

Rafizi was arrested over a circular that he issued as PKR secretary-general, which urged party members to attend the Kita Lawan rally last Saturday.

Violating constitutional rights

Azmin added the spate of arrests involving opposition figures and activists was Putrajaya's "shameless attempt" at disrupting legitimate political activities.

"Many of those arrested and detained are also lawmakers who are duty-bound by their oaths of office as elected representatives to serve the rakyat.

"Not only is Kita Lawan a legitimate form of protests allowed under our constitution but stopping such activities is to wilfully prevent (those detained) from performing their duties," said Azmin.

 

Earlier, PKR Youth also slammed the police raid and Rafizi's detention as "excessive".

 

"The act of bringing Rafizi who is under remand (to the office) and seizing of office equipment on the pretext of investigation the Kita Lawan rallies were also unnecessary.

 

"We regret that over issues between civil society and the Umno-BN parties, the police have taken an extreme approach," said PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in a statement today.

 

'Scare tactic'

 

Nik Nazmi, who has himself been arrested over the series of Kita Lawan rallies demanding freedom for jailed opposition leader and party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, said the crackdown only strengthens the people’s resolve.

 

“This is a planned effort to scare the people. However, it can be seen that in the end, these arrests after arrests will only inflame the people’s spirit, especially the young, to fight the oppression and call for justice,” he said.

 

Over a dozen have been arrested over the Kita Lawan last weekend, and scores more for previous rallies.

 

A think tank Political Studies for Change (KPRU) compiling the list of those arrested and detained said the numbers have reached 120 individuals and rises by the day, in the month or so since the jailing of Anwar.