Malaysian police have arrested dozens of people planning to build up support ahead of a mass rally for electoral reforms, activists said Sunday.
Police have held some 70 people since Friday, mainly members of the opposition Socialist Party of Malaysia, and stopped at least one talk aiming to whip up backing for the rally planned for July 9.
Government leaders and police have warned people not to promote the event, to be held by activists and opposition parties in the capital Kuala Lumpur
Two buses were stopped in northern and southern Malaysia
The campaign is calling for an end to the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's five-decade rule, and aims to drum up support for the upcoming rally, Kohila said.
Most of those arrested were released after questioning but 31 people are still being detained in northern Penang state, Kohila said.
Six others were briefly detained Saturday in Johor state in the south for handing out leaflets about the rally. A federal police official confirmed that several people were questioned, but could not immediately give further details.
Prime Minister Najib Razak on Sunday called on the opposition to fight him at the polls rather than on the street, dismissing claims of election irregularities, according to The Star online.
"Barisan does not manipulate the election. If we do, why should we want to lose four states to the opposition," he was quoted as saying.
"Do not create chaos just because you want power. If there is chaos, then (the organisers) will be held responsible," he said.
The opposition has ruled four of the country's 13 states since making major inroads during the last general election in 2008. The next general election is widely expected to be called within a year.
Federal police chief Ismail Omar has also called for the rally to be cancelled, saying it "can cause tension among the people", according to national news agency Bernama.
But K. Arumugam from electoral campaigners Bersih said the group reflected the people's wish for changes such as an end to allegedly widespread vote-buying, and longer campaign periods.
"We are committed to proceed with the Bersih rally," he told AFP.
"We are really trying to organise a proper, clean and peaceful rally... I don't understand why the government is so scared."
The youth wing of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and protest group Perkasa, which promotes ethnic Malay rights, have said they will hold counter-protests on July 9 to support the government.
Bersih drew some 30,000 people to a July 2007 rally which became the biggest in a decade, but was stopped with water cannon and tear gas.
- By Agence France-Presse
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