Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has pooh poohed the Hindraf event as a failure.

jinjang station gates 4 "Their effort failed as there was poor response, while they (organisers and participants of the demonstration) had also violated the law and inconvenienced the public," he said to Bernama after simultaneously opening the annual general meetings of the Umno branches in Perak.    

When asked about the mass arrests, he said he was waiting for a detailed report from the inspector-general of police on the arrests made.    

"According to a report I received this morning, it was not a big demonstration. The many Indians who had gathered at Batu Caves were there for a religious event and not for a street demonstration," he added.    

rally proceeds to Pudu IPK Kuala Lumpur police chief Zulkifli Abdullah said those arrested included eight women, while two reporters from the alternative media were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing the functions of the police.    

Aged 18 to 66, the protesters arrested were being detained for up to 24 hours in accordance with Section 27 (5) of the Police Act for taking part in an illegal demonstration, and Section 45 (1) of the Societies Act 1966.

101 freed

Meanwhile Bernama this evening reported that police have freed 101 people who were detained for taking part in a demonstration to protest the novel Interlok here today after completing investigations on them.     

However, eight others believed to be leaders of Hindraf, the banned Hindu Rights Action Force, and the Human Rights Party, were still being investigated, police said.     

"They will be freed once the investigations are completed," the Public Liaison Officer at the KL police headquarters, ASP Suffian Sulaiman, said in a statement.     

- Bernama