Rights group Suaram has submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), protesting the arrest of two members in Johor Bahru on Sunday.

The arrests, which took place during a protest in front of the Johor Menteri Besar's residence, were "a blatant abuse of police powers and a gross violation of constitutional rights".

Nyam Kee Han, 24 and See Siew Mun, 27, were detained without charges on Sunday night and then remanded for another 24 hours from yesterday. Nyam is the branch co-ordinator and See is branch secretariat member.

Commissioner Dr Chiam Heng Keng received the memorandum which listed five complaints - arbitrary arrest, illegal detention, unwarranted search of detainees' houses, unjustified remand order and mala fide in police action.

"It is regrettable that the police seem to be more interested in intimidating and harassing peaceful citizens instead of busting crime and catching criminals," said Suaram co-ordinator Tah Moon Hui.

"This is not only a waste of public monies but gross violation of human rights of the citizen."

'No reason to remand'

S Arutchelvan said the two members joined the protest only an hour after it had started, and that they were remanded because they were carrying flyers that pushed for police force reform.

Nyam and See had in their possession boxes of Suaram-printed flyers with information on the proposed independent police commission. Some 100,000 flyers have already been distributed by Suaram branches nationwide.

"The flyer was a very responsible one. Suaram's contact information is clearly listed at the bottom," said Subramaniam.

"There was no reason why the activists had to be remanded or their houses had to be searched."

The memorandum also called for Suhakam to demand the immediate release of the two activists and to push for the implementation of the commission.

Chiam promised to look into the matter and to submit her response immediately.