Peaceful anti-ISA protest in PJ

breaking news update 9.55pm About 200 people this evening gathered at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre to hold a peaceful protest against the Internal Security Act.

Howeverf unlike last Sunday, they were not dispersed by the police and no one was arrested.

The reason being this time around the organisers have obtained a police permit to hold the protest. People started gathering at the venue since 7.30pm.

Last Sunday, the police dispersed a group of protesters and arrested 23 persons as a result. Among those arrested included several top politicians.

PJ city councillor Richard Yeoh told Malaysiakini that he had applied for a police permit to hold the gathering last Friday and was given an approval on Saturday.

It is learnt that the gathering, which is organised by a group of concerned citizens, would be held at the same spot on a weekly basis.Previously this group had gathered on Sundays at the Padang Timur, opposite the Amcorp Mall to show their opposition to the preventive detention law.

Last Sunday, the police had removed the group from the field with some deciding to march to the Civic Centre, located about 2km away, to hold their protest.

The police moved into the group and made a number of arrests while they were in the midst of singing the national anthem.

Today, the police presence at the gathering spot was markedly reduced to a handful of plainclothes officers.

Twelve Conditions

One of the organiser of the gathering, lawyer and blogger Haris Ibrahim told Malaysiakini that the police had given permission for the gathering on the conditions that, among others, no candlelight vigil was held, no anti-ISA T-shirts were worn by the participants and no speeches by politicians - all main ingredients of the past gatherings.

However, just as the gathering gained momentum today, many of those in the crowd started lighting up their candles. Some were wearing anti-ISA T-shirts. There were also some political speeches.

Yeoh told the crowd that there were actually 12 conditions, which also included a prohibition against the organisers from conducting activities that suggest sympathy towards ISA detainees and no distribution of banners or leaflets.

Yeoh said that the individuals concerned would have to face the law if they were caught breaking the conditions of the police permit.

Haris however said that it was the right of the people to protest against an unjust piece of legislation.

Among those present at the gathering were Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago, Seputeh MP and Selangor exco member Teresa Kok and recently released ISA detainee Raja Petra Kamarudin.

The crowd also held a one-minute silence for Paula Khoo who was arrested last night in Penang for co-organising a peaceful anti-ISA candlelight vigil in the Esplanade. She was released on police bail some four hours later.

The crowd dispersed on their own accord without any untoward incident at about 9.30pm.

Motion For A Pay Cut

Earlier, Kok told the crowd that it was wise for the police not to interfere with the gathering.

She said that a diplomat had recently told her that Malaysia was labelled by the European Union as a ‘crisis country' because of its use of the ISA.

This, she said, would have a negative impact on foreign investment.

"I have also filed for a motion in the Parliament to propose a RM10 pay cut against Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan," she said.

Kok herself was arrested and detained under the ISA for a week in September for allegedly raising Islamic issues.

Last week, she filed a law suit against Syed Hamid and Musa for abusing their position to use the ISA on her.

Santiago meanwhile said that the gathering tonight showed that the people did not fear in expressing their protest against the ISA.

"The crackdown last week had prompted many people to come out today. Form this, you can see that there is a building of movement around the country that detest this law," he said.