Out of sadness from Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah’s detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), her father has not spoken for two days.

Speaking at a vigil held for Maria near Dataran Merdeka last night, Bersih steering committee member Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said Maria’s sister Cynthia Chin, revealed this.

But after Cynthia told their father about the support Maria has received, as evident from the daily vigils held for his daughter, he has managed to smile.

Yesterday was the third night in a series of vigils being held at Dataran Merdeka until Maria’s release.

Prior to the Dataran Merdeka vigil, supporters have been turning up at Jinjang detention centre since Nov 19.

The vigil was held at Jalan Raja, with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) having closed off Dataran Merdeka from 5pm, since Tuesday.

Apart from being held under Sosma, which allows for detention without trial for up to 28 days, Maria is also being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code for “engaging in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy”.

Last night’s vigil attracted some 500 supporters, most of them clad in Bersih T-shirts.

The participants appeared spirited and listened attentively to the speeches by various activists and political leaders.

Interspersed during the speeches were chants of “Bebas Maria” (free Maria) and “Mansuh Sosma” (abolish Sosma) as well as some songs led by some of the speakers.

Meanwhile, Bersih secretariat manager Mandeep Singh invited supporters to a campaign to be launched on Friday to urge for Maria's release.

To be held at the Petaling Jaya Library, Mandeep urged the people to come in the thousands to show that they will not retreat as long as their leader is not released.

Maria 'a patriot'

Former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, who calls Maria a “patriot”, said the latter has only been fighting for the poor and the downtrodden.

“Driving around in her little Proton Gen 2 - this is the person whom this government is afraid of.

“Aren’t they ashamed that they are incarcerating her and that they don’t have good reasons to do so?”

Citing the reason given for Maria’s arrest, in which the authorities have cited “security issues”, Ambiga pointed out how she, along with Maria and Mandeep, had been receiving death threats.

“Isn't that a security issue? But they only took statements from the three of us, that’s it,” said Ambiga.

Despite Maria’s present predicament, Ambiga believes her detention has created a “new movement”.

“People who did not come to Bersih are probably here tonight. They (the government) have no idea what they have unleashed.

"They have unleashed the good in Malaysian people,” Ambiga said.

'More arrests possible'

Meanwhile, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu, said Maria’s detention was only the start of many more to come.

Citing the Internal Security Act (ISA), which was passed in 1960 initially to deter communist activity in Malaysia, Mat Sabu pointed out how the law had since been used to detain many others.

“Sosma is for terrorists. Everyone knows that Maria is not a terrorist; in my meetings with her, not once did she ever mention about toppling the government,” said.

“Remember, if they can arrest Maria, who is not a terrorist, anyone can be arrested, too, including the one who is speaking now,” Mat Sabu said of himself.

Amanah, he added, would also conduct special prayers for the release of Maria as well as the “release of Malaysians from oppression”.

Apart from Mat Sabu, other prominent activists and politicians present last night were opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah, PAS MP Mahfuz Omar, Amanah MP Mohd Hatta Ramli and activist Hishamuddin Rais.

The event, which went on for three hours, concluded with a doa (prayer) session.