PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan yesterday lodged a police report against police officers for allegedly harassing him following the Egypt solidarity demonstration in Kuala Lumpur last Friday.

In the report lodged at the Kajang police station, Arutchelvan accused Inspector Faizal Abdullah and three plainclothes personnel from the Cheras police station of "misuse of power and mala fide " action.

According to a PSM statement today, the four went to Arutchelvan's house in Kajang yesterday to serve a notice under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to question him about Friday's demonstration.

suaram forum on police 260910 arutchelvan "(Inspector Faizal) also threatened that he would get an arrest warrant if Arutchelvan did not give his statement (on Sunday)," the statement read.

Arutchelvan ( right ), however, refused to make a statement, saying the notice did not specify the date and time he was required to do so, and that it was therefore "defective".

"(This is) an attempt to harass and threaten those who led the successful demonstration... Going to somebody's private residence and demanding a statement be recorded is harassment and high-handed police tactics," PSM said.

It also believes the government is using the police to "create fear and try to stop further mobilisation" on the same issue.

"The prime minister has cautioned Malaysians to learn from Egypt on the issue of chaos if demonstration goes on, but has yet to support the call for (Egypt president) Hosni Mubarak's resignation," PSM said.

Last Friday's demonstration saw about 3,000 people march to the US Embassy, expressing solidarity with the people of Egypt who had gathered in the millions throughout the nation demanding that their president steps down.

It was the second solidarity demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, with a more modest one having taken place in front of the Egypt embassy on Jan 31.