Former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has criticised the arrest of her successor Maria Chin Abdullah and secretariat secretary Mandeep Singh.

"It is a last-ditch and disgraceful attempt to thwart the Bersih rally (tomorrow).

"They (the authorities) don’t seem to know the Malaysian people. This will motivate more people to come out (and join the rally)," Ambiga told Malaysiakini.

Asked about the possibility of her being arrested as well, the former Bar Council president appeared unfazed.

"No matter who is arrested, this will not deter the spirit of Bersih.

"Bersih has never been about a single individual. We are all Maria and Mandeep," Ambiga added.

The two Bersih leaders were arrested this evening during a raid on the Bersih office in Petaling Jaya.

The raid was carried out by a team from the Bukit Aman police headquarters, together with officers from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

Prior to his arrest, Mandeep told Malaysiakini the raid was conducted under Section 124C of the Penal Code.

Section 124C relates to attempts to carry out activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Bersih is being investigated under the section with regard to funding it received from the Open Society Foundations, which is linked to billionaire George Soros.