heroezam01

Malaysian opposition groups have strongly denounced the arrest of a senior political activist.
Ezam Mohamad Noor, leader of the youth wing of the National Justice Party Keadilan, was detained on Monday in Kuala Lumpur.

He was arrested outside the home of Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wife of Anwar Ibrahim, the jailed former deputy prime minister of Malaysia.

Mr Ezam was arrested outside Wan Azizah's home

Mr Noor, who was formerly Mr Anwar's political secretary, is reported to be facing charges of sedition.

His arrest came after a Sunday newspaper quoted him saying his party would stage mass street rallies to topple the government.

He has strongly denied the remarks, saying he only commented on plans to hold nationwide peaceful protest meetings.

Mr Ezam and other opposition youth leaders have also been at the forefront of a campaign highlighting the alleged misuse of public funds to bail out Malay tycoons with close ties to the government.

Tensions

The Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front), which groups four opposition parties, denounced Mr Ezam's detention.

"With this arrest, it is obvious that the mainstream media and the police have become partners in supporting a government bent on establishing a farcical democracy," it said.

I wish to emphasise that if demonstrations are held, police will act sternly

Deputy police chief Jamil Johari
Correspondents say Mr Ezam's arrest reflects a significant increase in political tension in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday accused Keadilan of being bent on fomenting violence, as in Indonesia.

And on Monday police warned of tough action against anti-government demonstrations.

Protests, once rare in Malaysia, have become increasingly common since Mr Mahathir sacked Mr Anwar in September 1998.

Mr Anwar has since been jailed for 15 years for abuse of power and sodomy - charges he says were fabricated as part of a political plot to topple him.

Tuesday March 6

9 penyokong Ezam ditahan di balai Travers, Campbell

10:17pm, Tue: versi terkini Polis menahan sembilan penyokong pembangkang di balai-balai Travers dan Campbell, Kuala Lumpur tengah malam tadi selepas perhimpunan bagi menyokong Ketua Pemuda Parti Keadilan Nasional Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor yang ditangkap semalam.

Mereka ditahan antara jam 9.15 hingga setengah jam kemudian selepas memulakan acara menyalakan lilin dan menyanyikan lagu berdekatan Stadium Merdeka, di depan balai polis tempat Ezam ditahan.

Ezam kini ditahan di balai Jalan Stadium.

Lebih 70 orang anggota polis pelbagai unit dikerahkan untuk menyuraikan 50 penyokong parti itu.

Sebelum itu, seorang aktivis reformasi dan penulis tamu malaysiakini Hishamuddin Rais menyampaikan ucapan ringkas. Polis bertindak sebaik sahaja beliau menamatkan ucapannya.

Ezam sedang disiasat di bawah tiga undang-undang, Akta Polis, Akta Hasutan dan Kanun Keseksaan. Beliau dipercayai dibawa ke mahkamah esok untuk tahanan reman selanjutnya atau dituduh.

Antara yang ditahan malam ini termasuklah pengarah kempen ‘Bebaskan Anwar’ (FreeAnwar Campaign) Raja Petra Kamaruddin, isterinya dan dua wanita.

Mereka sebelum ini ditahan di balai polis Jalan Stadium.

Selepas disuraikan dan suasana sedikit kelam-kabut, para penyokong pembangkang berkumpul semula di sekitar balai berkenaan.

Mereka bergerak pulang selepas melihat sembilan tahanan itu dibawa ke balai-balai polis Travers (untuk wanita) dan Jalan Dang Wangi, bersebelahan kompleks beli-belah Campbell.

Turut hadir dalam perhimpunan malam tadi termasuklah Naib Presiden Keadilan Tian Chua dan aktivis reformasi Abd Malek Hussin.

Nama-nama lain yang ditahan:

1. Marina Abdullah (isteri Raja Petra)
2. Diong Chi Tzuoh
3. Tan Seow Kow
4. Fatimah Harun (ibu Zaridin dan Zarifah)
5. Zaridin Adlin
6. Zarifah Adlin
7. Badrul Izam (Pemuda Keadilan, Negeri Sembilan)
8. Azarizam Mohd Shahli

KeADILan's mission: A reply to Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Media Statement
5 March 2001
Parti Keadilan Nasional (keADILan) regrets very much the vile attempt by Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to depict keADILan as a party bent on overthrowing the government through violence.

No keADILan leader has ever advocated the overthrow of the government through violence. As a party that upholds democratic values, we abhor the use of violence to achieve political change.

What we continue to assert is the democratic right of the people to assemble peacefully to express their feelings about issues of public concern. This is one of the most fundamental human rights practised in any democracy. It is a right that is enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution.

The Malaysian government has often denied the people this fundamental right. In recent weeks peaceful gatherings organised by keADILan in Kuala Lumpur, Kulim and Kubang Pasu have been disrupted by harsh and often cruel police action. In this respect, keADILan, more than other Barisan Alternatif parties, appears to be the target of the authorities.

This is blatantly unfair. For keADILan represents the aspirations of a significant segment of Malaysians for greater freedom and democracy. Malaysians, especially the young, want more democratic space so that they can strive through peaceful means for political, economic and social reforms.

The crux and core of keADILan's peaceful struggle is for these reforms which we hope will see the emergence of stronger democratic institutions, more equitable distribution of wealth, greater honesty and integrity in public life and a more united, and ethnically harmonious society. Right from the outset, keADILan's agenda was much larger than Anwar Ibrahim. Nonetheless, because of the injustice done to him, Anwar has become an important symbol in the people's quest for justice.

By striving for justice in the face of severe odds, keADILan has shown Malaysians what it means to be patriotic. For genuine patriotism lies in defending values such as justice, freedom and equality so that
present and future generations of Malaysians will be able to live in dignity. Only if the people's dignity is protected and the interests of ordinary Malaysians are safeguarded, can the nation uphold its
integrity, independence and sovereignty. The danger to the independence and sovereignty of the nation comes from a corrupt, greedy elite that monopolises the wealth of the nation and places it own interests above that of the people. It is this unpatriotic elite that has betrayed the nation.

Dr. Mahathir does not want the people to realise this simple truth about his leadership. This is why he is trying to pull wool over the people's eyes by painting keADILan as unpatriotic, undemocratic and prone to violence. But the people cannot be deceived anymore. They know what keADILan's message and mission is.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
Deputy President
Parti Keadilan Nasional (keADILan)

FAC News
6 March 2001 - 13.30
Opposition leaders condemn Ezam's arrest as supporters warn of Jihad

The opposition leaders from the Alternative Front have condemned the arrest of the National Justice Party Youth Leader, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, on the eve of one of Islam's most sacred religious celebrations.

Khalid Jaafar, one-time Press Secretary to Anwar Ibrahim, called the arrest a transgression of democracy. Khalid said the right of expression, association and peaceful assembly, is enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution.

Dr Rahim Ghouse, Representative of the International Free Anwar Campaign, said the move to oust Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not be interpreted as "trying to topple the government" as Mahathir is not the government from his own admission two weeks ago.

In a press statement released this morning, the People’s Party of Malaysia (PRM) and the Alternative Front (BA) "condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Ezam, and also protests vehemently the rape of independent media that is on the increase in Malaysia. With this arrest, it is obvious that the mainstream media and the police has become partners in supporting a government bent on establishing a farcical democracy."

Rustam A. Sani, PRM's Vice President, said, "The arrest of Ezam, is in itself adequate reason for anyone to characterise the democracy practiced in Malaysia as farcical."

"What is even more disgusting is the selective persecution carried out by the authorities in Malaysia through its police force, which is already known for its violence and total disregard of basic human rights," added Rustam.

Rustam also said, "It is obvious that the government has now discovered yet another use for the “mainstream media” which it controls and manipulates……….the police action (against Ezam) was carried out on the basis of a report published in a “mainstream” newspaper that everybody knows is a tool of the government."

"The newspapers would be used to doctor news and to publish false reports – and based on such news reports police arrests would be carried out," said Rustam.

In the meantime, REFORMASI leaders have asked their supporters to assemble at the Dang Wangi police station in Jalan Stadium for a candlelight vigil at 8.30pm tonight.

The Internet was full of postings today calling for all REFORMASI supporters to launch a Jihad against injustices done to Anwar Ibrahim, Ezam, and many other Malaysians. The postings also asked the supporters to remember the sacrifice of Ibrahim Libya who was assassinated by the police together with his followers in Mahathir's home state of Kedah.

It is not known whether these postings are from legitimate REFORMASI supporters or agent provocateurs masquerading as REFORMASI supporters with intentions to start a blood bath in Kuala Lumpur. At the time of this report the identity of those calling for a Jihad could not be established.

According to an eyewitness report, Ezam was arrested at around 9.00pm last night as he arrived in front of Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's house. Five cars that were waiting for Ezam blocked his car and whisked him out. Ezam was then bundled into a car with a registration number WHK 1144 and taken away.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

From: DAP MALAYSIA <dap.malaysia@p...>
Date: Tue Mar 6, 2001 4:58pm
Subject: [BUNGARAYA] DAP condemns Ezam's arrest

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Media Conference Statement (2) by DAP National Chairman Lim Kit Siang at the "New Deal For Mother-tongue Education in Eighth Malaysia Plan" Conference at Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur on March 6, 2001 at 1 pm:

DAP condemns arrest of Ezam and calls on Suhakam to speak out against the high-handed and politically-motivated police action
===================================================

DAP condemns the arrest of Parti Keadilan National Youth chief Ezam Mohamad Nor yesterday and calls for his immediate release.

The police arrest was most uncalled for as it was based on the Mingguan
Malaysia front-page report that Ezam had said that he was launching street demonstrations every day to topple the government.

The first thing the police should do is to establish the veracity or otherwise of the Mingguan Malaysia report as Ezam has denied that he had ever made such a statement, and he repeated this denial when I asked him over the phone yesterday.

There is no justification for the police to arrest Ezam before finding out whether there is any truth in the Mingguan Malaysia report, for if the report is false, then the person to be arrested is not Ezam but the Mingguan Malaysia editor.

Why should the police believe the Mingguan Malaysia and not Ezam, especially as the lack of credibility and integrity of Mingguan Malaysia in political journalism is household knowledge in Malaysia?

The DAP has made it an essential creed of our political struggle in the past 35 years that we are committed to political change through the peaceful and democratic process and not by any violent or unconstitutional means.

The government on the other hand should respect the fundamental rights of Malaysians to the freedom of speech, assembly and association and should take note that Suhakam is drawing up a code of guidelines whereby peaceful assemblies could be conducted by Malaysians to express their concerns and grievances to the government in an orderly, peaceful and democratic manner.

Suhakam should speak out against the high-handed and politically-motivated police action in arresting Ezam without establishing whether the Mingguan Malaysia report is true or not as well as call for Ezam's immediate and unconditional release.

- Lim Kit Siang -

Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2001 20:41:16 +0800
From: Raja Petra <petra@tm.net.my>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:@relay3.jaring.my;>
Subject: Media Statement by Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor

Media Statement

6 March 2001

Another of Mahathir's diabolical plot with Utusan Malaysia

The latest episode in a series of episodes perpetuated by Utusan Malaysia, an UMNO propaganda organ masquerading as a newspaper, reveals Mahathir's strategy of using the media to create a climate of fear.

One year ago, Mahathir adopted the same tactic when he used Utusan Malaysia to create tension by accusing the National Justice Party of allegedly plotting to riot and bring about civil commotion in Malaysia.

I then made a police report and asked the police to investigate Mahathir (police report dated 26 April 2000) but it is almost a year and no action has been taken yet.

The police should investigate all police reports they receive, without fear or favour. The Prime Minister's statement a year ago is something serious and should not be taken lightly. If Mahathir fails to prove his allegation, then action should be taken against him because his
statement is seditious in nature and has caused anxiety amongst the general public.

This is a tactic of a desperate leader who sees his power eroding rapidly to the extent he would perpetuate a climate of fear just to distract Malaysians from the bigger issues of corruption and abuse of power.

Today, Mahathir is using the same tactic to distract the people from questioning the mismanagement of the country's finances. Again, Mahathir is using the media and the police to attack the opposition and avoid answering the questions being raised by the people.

All allegations by the opposition with regards to the abuse of power and mismanagement of finances in agencies such as the Employees Provident Fund (EFP), Pilgrims Fund (LUTH), Ministry of Finance, PNB, Armed Forces Pension Fund (LTAT), and so on, has not received any reply from the government. Instead, they continue to use the police to frighten the people and persecute the opposition leaders.

I personally have been persecuted no less than six times. Today, at 2.00pm, six police personnel entered my house without my permission or presence and ransacked my entire house. This "raid" was in response to a police report made by the UMNO Youth Movement earlier today. The police report I made a year ago on the abuses of Mahathir, complete with tangible evidence, however, is being totally ignored by the police.

Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor

National Justice Party (keADILan) Youth Leader

Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2001 00:44:20 +0800
From: Rustam A. Sani <rustam@tm.net.my>
Subject: KENYATAAN MEDIA/MEDIA STATEMENT RUSTAM A. SANI

KENYATAAN MEDIA
Rustam A. Sani
5 March 2001

[This statement is in Malay and English]

Tindakan Polis Berpilih-pilih Berasaskan Berita Akhbar dan Laopran Polis Tambah Mengaibkan Lagi Amalan Demokrasi di Malaysia

Penangkapan Ezam Mohd. Noor, Ketua Pemuda Parti Keadilan Nasional, sendirinya sudah cukup untuk sesiapa sahaja di seluruh dunia untuk menuduh demokrasi yang di amalkan di Malaysia sebagai demokrasi palsu. Tidak payahlah Dr Mahathir Mohamad bertegang leher membuat tuduhan terhadap media antarabangsa, kerana seluruh dunia tahu siapa yang sebenarnya memutarbelit berita dan memperlat media.

Apa yang lebih menjelekkan ialah sikap berpilih-pilih yang dilakukan oleh pihak berkuasa melalui pasukan polisnya yang sudah dikenali ganas dan tidak berperikemnusiaan itu. Rumah Ezam telah digeledah kira-kira dua jam setelah Pemuda UMNO mengemukakan laporan polis menuduh beliau membuat kenyataan bahawa beliau akan menganjurkan tunjuk perasaan setiap hari demi menjatuhkan kerajaan – sedangkan Ezam sudah menafikan kenyataan tersebut.

Dalam simpanan polis sekarang terdapat puluhan laporan tentang salah laku dan rasuah para menteri kabinet – sebahagian besarnya telah dikemuakakan oleh Ezam sendiri. Namun setelah berbulan-bulan berlalu tidak ada sebarang tindakan yang diambil oleh pihak polis. Sebaliknya, Ezam sendiri telah ditahan selepas beberapa jam sahaja Pemuda
UMNO membuat laporannya.

Selain itu, tindakan polis tersebut dilakukan berasaskan laporan sebuah akhbar arus uatma yang diketahui umum memang telah diperalat oleh pemerintah. Beberapa bulan lalu akhbar yang sama telah melaporkan ancaman oleh Timbalan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO untuk membakar Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Selangor. Namun tidak ada sebarang tindakan diambil terhadap ahli politik tersebut.

Nyatalah bahawa pihak pemerintah kini sudah menemui satu lagu kegunaan baru bagi media arus utama negara ini yang memang telah dipegunakan dan diperalatkannya selama ini. Media tersebut digunakan untuk memutarbelit berita dan membuat laporan palsu, dan kemudian berdasarkan laporan palsu tersebut penangkapan polis akan dilakukan. Demikianlah peranan media arus utama yang baru-baru ini beria-ia benar didakwa oleh Senator Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, Setiausaha Parlimen Kementarian Penerangan Malaysia, sebagai sudah dapat dipulihkan kredibilitinya.

PRM dan BA membantah sekeras-kerasnya penangakapan Saudara Ezam Mohd Noor, di samping mengecam sekuat-kuatnya penodaan institusi media bebas yang semakin berleluasa di negara ini. Kini media arus utama dan polis merupakan rakan kongsi yang erat dalam usaha pihak kerajaan menodai hak asasi rakyat negara ini.

Rustam A. Sani
Naib Presiden, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) dan
Pengerusi, Biro Media dan Penerangan, Barisan Alternatif (BA).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSLATION

Selective Police Persecution Based on News and Police Reports Has Made the Already Farcical Democracy in Malaysia an Even Bigger Laughing Stock

The arrest of Ezam Mohd Noor, Youth Leader of the Parti Keadilan Nasional (KeADILan), is in itself adequate reason for anyone to characterise the democracy practiced in Malaysia as farcical. There is no need for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to point accusing fingers to the international media, for the world already knows who is actually capable
of manipulating news and controlling the media.

What is even more disgusting is the selective persecution carried out by the authorities in Malaysia through its police force which is already known for its violence and total disregard of basic human rights. Ezam’s house was ransacked about two hours after the UMNO Youth Movement
filed a police report accusing him of saying that he would be organising daily demonstrations in order to topple the government – although he had already denied making such a statement.

The police must have received, in the last few months, tens of police reports concerning misdeeds and corruption committed by cabinet ministers – some of these reports were indeed filed by Ezam himself. Yet after months have passed, the police have not taken any action. Instead, it was Ezam who was arrested only hours after the UMNO Youth filed a
report against him.

Besides, the police action was carried out on the basis of a report published in a “mainstream” newspaper that everybody knows is a tool of the government. A few months ago the same newspaper reported the threat made by the Deputy Leader of the UMNO Youth that he would burn down the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. No action was taken against the pro-government politician, however.

It is obvious that the government has now discovered yet another use for the “mainstream media” which it controls and manipulates. The newspapers would be used to doctor news and to publish false reports – and based on such news reports police arrests would be carried out. Such is the role of the mainstream media in Malaysia today, although Senator Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, Parliamentary Secretry, Ministry of Information, claimed recently that the media has regain edits credibility.

PRM (People’s Party of Malaysia) and BA (The Alternative Front) condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Ezam Mohd Noor, and also protest vehemently the rape of independent media that is on the increase in Malaysia. With this arrest, it is obvious that the mainstream media and the police has become partners in supporting a government bent on establishing a farcical democracy.

Rustam A. Sani
Vice Presiden, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and
Chairman, Bureau for Media and Information, Barisan Alternatif
(BA).

--
Rustam A. Sani
7519 Jalan Bukit Lela, Gombak
53100 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tel: +[603] 6189 7588
Fax: +[603] 6184 1069
Mobile: 019 389 7888

Wednesday March 7

Police dancing to Umno’s tune
Legal Correspondent

4:38pm, Wed: I note with consternation the quick police action in arresting Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor based on a report lodged by Umno Youth. The report itself was based on 'hearsay' evidence, a statement purportedly attributed to Ezam by an Umno-controlled paper.

Firstly, the police action has confirmed the public perception that its top officers have allowed themselves to become a political tool of Umno. Is there no more honour and professionalism in the force, in view of the fact that they are all members of the Malaysian Public Services by virtue of Article 132 of the Federal Constitution and that their salaries are paid for from public funds? Should they not be serving the public instead of those Umno politicians?

A professional police investigation over the alleged 'seditious statement' should obviously start with the police interviewing the reporter who allegedly wrote the news report. Only when the police have established from the reporter that Ezam had indeed called for street demonstrations to topple the government would the police have sufficient basis to call in Ezam for interrogation.

Even then an arrest is really quite unnecessary. As it is the accuracy of the report has not been established. The police do not have reasonable suspicion that he has committed an offence.

What has happened to the Malaysian police force. Is there no honour left in the service?

From: DAP MALAYSIA <dap.malaysia@p...>
Date: Wed Mar 7, 2001 2:18pm
Subject: [BUNGARAYA] Ezam's arrest: Police "black eye"

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Media Statement by DAP National Chairman Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on
Wednesday, March 7, 2001:

Police has given itself a "black eye" in arresting Ezam showing it is most
unprofessional, lacking independence and most politically-motivated in
arresting first and investigate later when it should be the other way round
==========================================================

The Police has given itself a "black eye" in arresting Parti Keadilan
National Youth chief Ezam Mohamad Nor on Monday, showing the nation and the
world in the high-profile case that the police is most unprofessional,
lacking independence and most politically-motivated.

The police arrested Ezam based on the Mingguan Malaysia front-page report
on Sunday that the Keadilan Youth leader had said that he was launching
street demonstrations every day to topple the government.

Professional and competent police all over the world would investigate first
before making any arrest, but the Malaysian police has done itself a great
disservice by showing to the whole world that it does the opposite - arrest
first and investigate later.

As Ezam has denied that he had ever made such a statement as reported by
Mingguan Malaysia, would the police arrest the Mingguan Malaysia editor and
reporter concerned unless they can produce proof that Ezam had in fact made
the statement?

The Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has done his own
reputation no good in his swift endorsement of the completely indefensible
police action in arresting first and investigating later in the Ezam case.

A strong and fair-minded Home Minister would have reprimanded the police for
bringing the police and the country into disrepute in the arrest of Ezam
even before there was any investigation, showing the world how
unprofessional the Malaysian police could be in dancing to the tune of the
political agenda of UMNO whose UMNO Youth had lodged a police report against
Ezam earlier the same day.

Abdullah should direct the police to release Ezam immediately as the arrest
on Monday was most unprofessional, in bad faith and with ulterior motives,
as it was made before the police had checked whether there was any truth in
the Mingguan Malaysia report.

The further remand of Ezam for another four days following the expiry of
his two-day detention today is scandalous and outrageous, as it flouts all
notions of fair play and justice.

The Ezam case has served to highlight the double standards practised by the
police in handling political cases, where reports lodged by Barisan Nasional
parties against Barisan Alternative leaders are taken as gospel truth even
causing the police to dishonour its professional code in commiting the
unthinkable deed of arresting first and investigate later, while reports
lodged by the Barisan Alternative against Barisan Nasional leaders are
regarded as trash not deserving of any police action!

Malaysians had hoped that with Abdullah as Home Minister, there would be
greater police professionalism and independence in the police handling of
such political cases, but the Ezam case has shown that the opposite has
taken place.

In fact, the police under Abdullah is becoming even more intolerant and
repressive as shown by the arrest of nine persons outside the Dang Wangi
district police headquarters last night for a peaceful candlelight vigil in
support of Ezam who was held in the police lock-up there.

There can be no justification for the high-handed police action against a
peaceful candlelight vigil gathering, and something is very wrong with the
police mentality and the law and order situation in the country when such a
small peaceful candlelight vigil could be regarded as a threat to security
as to justify the mobilisation of the FRU and police arrests.

The police should immediately release the six men and three women arrested
last night and remember that the police must contribute to the national
objective as laid down in the Rukunegara "to maintain a democratic way of
life" and not to perpetrate a repressive police state by respecting the
peaceful gathering of people who want to express their outrage or concern at
unfair or unjust government actions.

- Lim Kit Siang -

Malaysian opposition leader remanded on suspicion of sedition

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (AFP) - Malaysian police Wednesday won a court order to detain an opposition leader for three more days on suspicion of sedition as his supporters accused the government of trying to stifle dissent.
Mohamad Ezam Mohamad Nor, a former close aide to jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, was brought to court handcuffed after being arrested late Monday.

Nine supporters who held a candlelit vigil Tuesday night outside the police station have also been arrested for illegal assembly.

Police are investigating Ezam's alleged call in Sunday's edition of Utusan Malaysia newspaper for mass protests to topple Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government.

Ezam said he was misquoted and that he spoke only of planned nationwide peaceful protests against alleged corruption and cronyism.

Fellow opposition leaders and Ezam's wife slammed the arrest and remand, saying it is aimed at intimidating the opposition.

After the court hearing Ezam's lawyer Zainur Zakaria told reporters that police had obtained an order to hold Ezam in custody until Friday to complete investigations.

"The police have not been been able to establish the need to remand him because he told the court he is available any time if they want to investigate him," Zainur said.

Ezam's wife Bahirah Tajul Aris told AFP the remand was uncalled for since her husband was willing to cooperate with inquiries.

"It's just a way for them to arrest my husband to intimidate us, to demotivate us but we will still continue our struggle," she said.

"No matter what they do to him, I don't think he will change his principles."

Ezam, youth chief of the National Justice Party (Keadilan) headed by Anwar's wife, could face up to three years' jail if charged with sedition and convicted.

Three opposition figures have been charged with sedition in the past 14 months. Two of them -- one of Anwar's lawyers and an opposition newspaper editor -- are still on trial while a third was convicted and fined.

Tian Chua, a vice president of Keadilan, said Ezam's arrest without any concrete charge and his remand were "extremely irregular, extremely unfair" and aimed at suppressing opposition leaders.

Chua said he expected more arrests but the opposition would press ahead with its plan for mass rallies to protest injustice in the country and to urge Mahathir to step down.

"We believe that Dr Mahathir has lost his mandate to be the leader of the nation... it is time for him to step down and we will put pressure until he does," he said.

"This form of intimidation such as the arrest of Ezam and nine others last night will not stop us from our mobilisation."

Chua, however, stressed that the opposition was not calling for the use of force to topple the government.

Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, said police were "unprofessional, lacking independence and most politically motivated in arresting first and investigating later."

In a statement he described the remand as "scandalous and outrageous as it flouts all notions of fair play and justice."

Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said Ezam was arrested "not for his political differences, but because of the words he uttered."

Demonstrations are illegal in Malaysia without a permit. Police used tear gas twice last month to disperse rallies. Once rare here, demonstrations have become common since Mahathir sacked his heir apparent Anwar in September 1998.

Anwar was later convicted of abuse of power and sodomy and jailed for a total of 15 years in what he says was political persecution. The government denies any political motive.

Malaysian protest leader jailed without charge

Court orders arrest over sedition allegations

By Jasbant Singh, AP

7 March 2001

A magistrate has ordered that a leader of a protest campaign against Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad be jailed without charge while police investigate sedition allegations against him.

Ezam Mohamad Noor, the youth leader of the opposition National Justice Party, was remanded in custody following his arrested Monday for reportedly calling for street demonstrations every day until the government is ousted.

"This is a plot by Mahathir to destroy the opposition," Ezam told The Associated Press as he was led into court, handcuffed and flanked by four police officers.

Leaders from Malaysia's four–party opposition coalition on Wednesday accused the government of using the police to stifle political dissent, and warned that further arrests were likely.

The coalition, which is dominated by the fundamentalist Pan–Malaysian Islamic Party and the National Justice Party, also known as Keadilan, is vying with Mahathir's United Malays National Organization for support among the predominant Malay Muslim community.

"Mahathir ... (is) very vicious and this action is suppressing our leaders," said Tian Chua, Keadilan's vice president. "We expect this is not the last case."

Outside the courthouse, a small crowd of supporters shouted the opposition reform slogan "reformasi" and "keep fighting Ezam" as the hearing went ahead in Magistrate Lim Kui Lee's private chambers.

Police said Ezam's arrest on Monday night was in response to comments reported in a Malaysian newspaper that he wanted to topple the government. Ezam and the Justice Party have denied advocating violence but have vowed to continue to organize protests.

Nine people were arrested yesterday when police broke up a candlelight vigil outside the jail where Ezam was being held. They were released Wednesday and ordered to report to police later to find out if they would face illegal assembly charges.

Ezam's lawyer Zainur Zakaria told reporters that Lim had ruled that Ezam be held for four days, after which police must charge him or return to court to seek another remand order.

Zainur said he would appeal the ruling to the High Court on grounds Ezam's detention without charge was unjust.

"Police have not given reasons to remand him," Zainur said.

Ezam has been the driving force behind a series of opposition protests which has picked up pace since late last year and has recently extended into Mahathir's home state.

Dian said the opposition would not be bowed by the threat of arrest.

"It is our ultimate objective to overthrow the government," he said. "There is nothing wrong with utilizing our right to assemble and mobilize the masses to express our views. The arrest of Ezam ... will not stop us from mobilizing our supporters."

Ezam was being held under Malaysia's Sedition Act, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in jail if he is charged and convicted.