By Clara Chooi
May 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUANTAN, May 15 — Police arrested four DAP members here this morning for holding a demonstration to protest the Lynas Corp rare earths refinery in Gebeng.

DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief Anthony Loke (file picture), who was present at the time, told The Malaysian Insider that the police moved in to arrest the four just as the event on was nearing its tail end.

He explained that the programme had began with the opening of the Kuantan DAP service centre on Jalan Beserah at 10am this morning before moving on to a short demonstration.

“It was just a small one… three of us gave speeches, (Triang assemblyman) Leong Ngah Ngah, (PKR’s Indera Mahkota MP) Azan Ismail and then me.

“When it was my turn to speak, the Kuantan OCPD came and told us to stop the event. I told him that we were already finishing so after a short argument, we managed to finish our demonstration and we told everyone to disperse,” he said when contacted.

Loke explained that the DAP leaders then regrouped for a short photo session with the media.

“That was when these four members laid out the anti-Lynas banner which only had a logo on it and they lay down on it for the pictures.

“Seeing this, the OCPD immediately ordered his officers to arrest them, claiming it was a provocative move,” he said.

The four are Kuantan DAPSY deputy chief Lee Chin Chen, Bentong DAP deputy chief Chow Yu Hui, Special officer to Penang Chief Minister Ting Siow Shuen and DAP’s Rocket reporter Khor Huey Ying.

Loke said the four were then brought to the Kuantan district police headquarters to have their statements taken.

When contacted, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, who has been leading the anti-Lynas campaign in her constituency said it was clear that the police were merely acting to assert their authority and power.

“They just wanted to show who was in charge. The even had barely started and already there was very heavy police presence in the area,” she said.