Eight Perak Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives and six others were arrested by the Ipoh police about 11.25am for alleged illegal assembly.
They were arrested while walking in a procession from the DAP headquarters to the High Court to observe a suit being filed against the BN state government over the sacking of elected village heads.
Among those arrested were ousted assembly speaker V Sivakumar (centre in photo), DAP's Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran and state assemblypersons Keshwinder Singh (DAP-Malim Nawar), Chan Ming Kai (PKR-Simpang Pulai), Chang Lih Kang (PKR-Teja), Leong Mee Meng (DAP-Jalong), Thomas Su (DAP-Pasir Pinji) and Lim Pek Har (DAP-Menglembu).
In all, those arrested were one DAP parliamentarian, five DAP and two PKR state representatives, two DAP members, Sivakumar's two bodyguards and two onlookers who were held at a nearby coffee shop.
They have been taken to the Ipoh district police station for investigations.
State DAP leader Ngeh Khoo Ham told Malaysiakini that he has lodged a police report on the arrests.
The group had earlier taken part in the launch of Pakatan's hunger strike which was officiated by ousted menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.
Nizar was not among those arrested as he had left for the High Court for the filing of the suit.
Five arrested earlier
The arrest of the 14 followed the arrests of five people earlier this morning while they were making arrangements for the launch of a three-day hunger strike.
The five are employees of an event management company, and were setting up a canopy at the DAP headquarters in Ipoh when the police arrived about 6am.
The police seized a huge balloon which was to be released to mark the beginning of the hunger strike at 10am.
DAP party workers told Malaysiakini that the balloon was specifically made for the event at a cost of about RM2,000, with the words Daulat Tuanku and Bubarkan DUN (Dissolve the Assembly).
Pakatan elected representatives were not at the DAP headquarters when the police raid took place.
About 9.15am, a large contingent of police, including some 20 Federal Reserve Unit personnel, were still stationed outside the DAP office. They prevented anyone from going near the canopy.
However the police stepped aside when Nizar arrived about 10.10am.
Other Pakatan elected representatives soon arrived at the DAP headquarters.
The hunger strike is aimed at persuading the Perak sultan to dissolve the state assembly for snap state elections to be held.
The hunger strike is part of a day-long programme which is to include a ceramah (political rally) in Ipoh at 9pm.
A permit to shake hands?
The police ordered the organiser to remove the canopy and a banner which was put up.
Earlier a commotion had erupted between Ipoh City Council officers and Pakatan leaders over the attempt to remove the banner.
A visibly angry state DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming then asked the council officers to grant them some time before dismantling the banner.
A noon deadline was set but the banner was removed at about 11.45am.
Another side-show took shape when Nizar arrived. A police officer prevented him from shaking hands with the police.
This prompted a supporter to ask: "Do you need permit to shake hands?"
Nizar launched the hunger strike at 10.44am.
In his speech, he said the people of Perak do not want a menteri besar appointed by the court, referring to a Court of Appeal decision last week which affirmed his rival Zambry Abd Kadir as the menteri besar.
"Surveys show that 90 percent of the people want the dissolution of state assembly," he said.
"People don't want a menteri besar elected by the court. They want a menteri besar elected by the people. Whatever decision made by the court, people's power will make the final decision," added.
Suit filed against BN
At the Ipoh High Court, meanwhile, 817 Pakatan appointed village heads and committee members filed a suit seeking a judicial review over their dismissal by the BN-led state government.
The suit was filed at 11.45am by their lawyer Leong Cheok Keng.
According to them, their term is only to end on July 21, 2010 but had been terminated effective April 16 when Zambry became the menteri besar.
Only 80 of the aggrieved village heads and committee members were at the court. They were led by Padang Rengas village head Mohd Ridzuan Asit.
The plaintiffs are seeking for orders from the court to quash their dismissal and be reinstated to their posts.
They want an injunction to stop the BN state government from appointing others to their posts.
"We also want the court to stop BN from barring others from using the village community halls, and not limit these to BN's use only," said Mohd Ridzuan.
They are further seeking punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages, an investigation into the losses suffered by the village heads and the cost of the action.
Nizar, who was present, left the premises at noon after the filing process was completed. and not limit these to BN's use only," said Mohd Ridzuan.
They are further seeking punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages, an investigation into the losses suffered by the village heads and the cost of the action.
Nizar, who was present, left the premises at noon after the filing process was completed.
They are further seeking punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages, an investigation into the losses suffered by the village heads and the cost of the action.
Nizar, who was present, left the premises at noon after the filing process was completed.
26/05/09
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