Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Pre-Perak showdown: Mat Sabu, three others nabbed - Star

May 6, 2009 By NG CHENG YEE

PUTRAJAYA: PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu was among four people detained by police in a crackdown just before the sitting of the Perak State Assembly in Ipoh Thursday.

Perak CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah confirmed that Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, was detained at 3.15pm along Jalan Pahang in Kuala Lumpur under Section 27(5) of the Police Act for provoking people to hold illegal assemblies.

“I have already issued a warning to discourage people from taking part or even planning any illegal assembly in Ipoh.

“Mat Sabu had been encouraging people to gather in Perak because of the State Assembly sitting,” he said.

In Putrajaya, three people claiming to be from Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, who wanted to present a cake and a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, were arrested.

Mat Sani Mat Shah, 26, was the first to be arrested when he tried to grab the cake, which the police were taking away at 11am on Wednesday.

The other two — Saufi Mihad, 28, and Yashir Sheikh Abd Rahman, 26 — were taken away by the police when they tried to display a banner for pressmen to take photos.

Spokesperson Badrul Hisham Shahrin, a Parti Keadilan Rakyat supreme council member, said the cake was supposed to be delivered to the Prime Minister in conjunction with the 31st birthday of murdered Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

OCPD Supt Abdul Razak Abdul Majid said the three were arrested for illegal gathering.

Badrul Hisham, popularly known as Chegu Bard, followed them to the police station and was allowed to leave after his statement was recorded.

“We are still investigating the case and we are allowed to remand them for 48 hours until tomorrow,” he said.

In KOTA BARU, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa condemned the arrest of Mohamad Sabu and other political activists.

He said the arrests were a clear indication of a desperate move by Barisan Nasional to stop the mammoth gathering planned for Thursday in Ipoh.

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