Eighteen NGOs have cried foul over the arrest of protesters who were performing a sit-in outside Parliament last night.

The NGOs said the protesters were merely exercising their rights under Article (1)(2) of the Federal Constitution to assemble peacefully.

In a joint statement today, the groups said the use of Section 124B of the Penal Code against them, for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy, was unjustifiable.

"The police have raised the flag of 'protecting democracy', but have failed democracy at the same time.

"Under Article 10(1)(2) of the Federal Constitution, every citizen has the right to peaceful and unarmed assembly.

"It is clear that the peaceful protest by ‘#Langkahsiswa’ to state its demands is not against the constitution, and is reasonable in any country with a democratic system," the groups added.

Among others, the 18 NGOs include Universiti Malaya Students Association, besides the Universiti Utara Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia chapters of the Student Progressive Front.

The NGOs said this in reference to the arrest of 17 individuals near the gates of Parliament last night.

The 17 individuals, who referred to themselves as #Langkahsiswa, have been staging a sit-in there since Monday evening.

Among others, the group is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for his role in the 1MDB controversy and for investigations on the 1MDB scandal to be expedited.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) secretary Ho Chi Yang told Malaysiakini that student groups are planning to gather outside the Jinjang police detention centre tonight to show solidarity with the detainees.

The 17 individuals have been remanded until Friday.

"Our main focus now is the arrest and remand of the students," Ho said.