The police allegedly harassed opposition campaigners and 'frightened' away supporters at a political ceramah in Sarikei, Sarawak last night, an opposition leader told malaysiakini today.

"We were told to hold our talks in a room with all windows and doors shut," said Keadilan assistant youth secretary Diong Chi Tzuoh.

Police also took photographs of those attending the ceramah ," he added, when contacted in Repok, a constituency in Sarikei, where the incident took place.

Diong said he was told by the police that Keadilan was new in Sarawak and any ceramah organised by the party may create problems.

"When I told them about our rights to hold such gatherings during campaign period, the police said they will take action against those who did," he said.

Diong said he had to relocate the ceramah to a room on the second floor of the party's candidate for Repok , Dr Wong Wong Hua Seh's office.

However, when police started taking photographs and jotting down names of people who attended the talk, many left, he added.

He lamented that police have also asked him to provide personal details of campaigners which he had refused as it was not his responsibility to divulge such information.

'Violating professional ethics'

Diong criticised the police for "violating professional ethics, threatening and harassing campaigners".

"They should be neutral and not take sides with any political party during an election," he said, adding that yesterday's incident was an attempt to put pressure on Keadilan.

However, there were no reports of police harassment from the other constituencies.

Sarawak's opposition parties are gearing up for several multi-cornered fights in the state's eighth legislative elections scheduled for Sept 27 after nominations closed yesterday.

The Sarawak state legislative assembly is the highest law-making body in the state, comprising 62 seats, where a total of 868,487 eligible voters will cast their ballots.

Keadilan and DAP have fielded candidates in Repok, Pending and Tanjong Datu while PAS and Keadilan are locked in a contest for the Malay-majority Samariang.

In Repok, Keadilan's Wong will meet DAP's Wong Sing Ai and SUPP's Teng Lung Chi.