THE coordinator of the Anti-Illegal Places of Worship movement, Zamri Vinoth Abdullah, and fellow organiser Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak were remanded by police today following a series of pre-emptive arrests linked to a planned protest in the capital, while 18 other detainees were released on police bail after questioning.
Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who was among those initially detained, confirmed the developments after providing statements to the authorities.
“Twenty individuals were detained before last night’s rally, including myself. After police took our statements, 18 individuals were released on police bail at around 3am. However, police detained Zamri and Tamim for remand proceedings today,” he told Malaysiakini.
Haniff expressed gratitude for the conduct of junior police officers during the detention, but criticised decisions made by senior authorities.
“I would like to thank the junior police officers who treated us well, but the issue lies with the senior officers who gave the instructions,” MalaysiaKini cited him saying.
Police had begun making arrests from around 8pm, targeting individuals believed to be heading towards a planned gathering opposing the construction of allegedly illegal places of worship near the Sogo shopping complex.
A heavy police presence, including riot control units, sealed off areas surrounding Sogo and Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru to prevent the crowd from forming. Dang Wangi district police chief Sazalee Adam issued an order to disperse at around 9pm after more than 100 people had congregated.
Those held alongside Zamri, Haniff and Tamim included Bersatu Hulu Langat information chief Shafiq Abdul Halim, UMMAH Melaka chairman Hisyamuddin Abu Bakar, and PPIM activist Gulab Jan Fazal Elad. Additional detainees were Prowaris member Iskandar Khoo Kuan Yiaw and anti–illegal worship activists Jamalee Bashah, Fatimah Mat Raji, Elza Nadiah Shaik Sulaiman, Jurasmadi Pauzi, Esma Hisham Zainol Nor, and Monashofian Putra Zulkarnain Indra Putra.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier issued a stern warning that maximum measures, including arrests, would be taken against any party attempting to undermine national security.
He stressed that while Malaysians are free to express their views and criticisms, this freedom does not extend to actions construed as disloyalty or attempts to destabilise the country.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also urged that the rally be called off in the interest of public safety, noting that although the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 no longer mandates police permits, authorities retain full powers to intervene if a gathering is considered a threat to stability.
Later in the night, police detained two leaders of the Urimai party, organisers of a separate rally initially scheduled for India Gate in Brickfields. Hindu Temple Task Force Coalition adviser Satees Muniandy confirmed the arrests.
“We have just been informed that a group of Dang Wangi police officers took K Gunasekaran (Cikgu Sekar) and Sai Saravana from their homes in Klang at around 12.30am.
The Urimai party strongly condemns this unnecessary harassment of our activists.
The purpose of Dang Wangi police bringing them in remains unclear, as the officers involved refused to disclose any information or reasons for their actions.
“Although the actual reason is still unknown, we believe this action may be linked to the arrests carried out by police in the Sogo area last night.
However, it is unclear why Cikgu Sekar and Sai Saravana were taken, as they had no connection whatsoever to any incident that occurred today,” he said.
Cikgu Sekar had been the organiser of the ‘Rally to Protest the Police-Government’s Refusal to Act Against Insults to the Hindu Religion in Malaysia’, which was postponed from February 8 to February 15 at the request of police. Organisers complied to avoid coinciding with the visit of India’s prime minister.
Satees, who is also Urimai’s secretary, said the party had fully adhered to police instructions and announced the postponement to protect Malaysia’s image during the foreign leader’s visit.
“Is the government now trying to ‘balance out’ the arrests of those who gathered at Sogo despite police warnings? And why are individuals who complied with police instructions being harassed instead? What kind of petty politics is this?
“Cikgu Sekar and Sai Saravana did not break any laws, yet they were still harassed by the police, supposedly in the name of ‘balancing action’. We strongly condemn this harassment,” he said. - February 8, 2026
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