Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today questioned the police for its high-handed action in cancelling a party function she was supposed to attend.

According to Azizah, the police had already sealed off the party's premises in Puchong, Selangor, by the time she arrived for a high-tea function that was scheduled there last Saturday.

"The reason given was that there was no permit given for the function. However, our lawyers advised us that no permit was required for a function held inside the party's own premises," she said in a statement.

"I think the Petaling Jaya chief police officer owes me an explanation as to why I was prevented from carrying out my duties and meeting my party members and supporters at the party's own premises," Azizah said.

When contacted, Petaling Jaya police chief SAC Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Ahmad said the crowd at the premises had become too large by the time Azizah arrived that he feared a security hazard.

"The crowd was too big and I was in no way trying to stop her from meeting party members. I told my men to keep her at the road block first. When the crowd dispersed, then I decided to let her through," he added.

"I tried to ask the organisers to talk to me but they refused to do so. In any event, they did not have a permit. The branch that she was trying to visit had not even been registered with the Registrar of Societies.

"They could have had the meeting at a hotel," he added.

Insult

However, Azizah said the police action in denying the party the right to assemble was tantamount to an insult.

"To the police as a whole, I would like to say that we, too, as a responsible party, are concerned that law and order should be maintained" and we are willing to co-operate with the police.

"Mutual respect would go a long way towards improving the present situation, and this can only be achieved when we sit down and have a sincere and honest talk on the issue," Azizah said

In August, the government announced a blanket ban on political ceramahs .

A few opposition leaders such as PAS central working committee member Mohammad Sabu have been incarcerated for contravening the controversial directive.