The arrests made after the peaceful May Day rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday only serves to stoke public anger against Prime Minister Najib Razak's government, said Bersih.

"The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) warns the Najib administration that it will only face greater public wrath if it chooses to persecute protesters in the May Day protest yesterday, rather than listening to the widespread anger of Malaysians against Goods and Sales Tax (GST) expressed," said the group's steering committee in a statement today.

"Angered with the new tax that hurts everyone’s pockets when billions of ringgit are lost through 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and Najib’s family continuing their extravagant lifestyle with public funds or wealth of dubious sources, the public will not be cowed into silence," it said.

Bersih reminded Najib that his government only enjoyed the support of "47 percent of voters, and kept in power by the Election Commission (EC) through malapportionment and gerrymandering of constituencies".

"A leader lacking legitimacy, Najib should therefore humbly accept that the May Day protest was a peaceful and orderly protest of Malaysians demanding the cancellation of GST, an exercise of their constitutional freedom guaranteed by Article 10(1)(a) and 1(b) of the federal constitution," said the committee led by chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

The committee said the arrests were inexcusable and demanded the release of those detained.

"The police are abusing their power and betraying their constitutional duty by attempting to silence and terrorise the public," said Bersih.

Police 'malicious'

PSM secretary-general and May Day organising committee member S Arutchelvan, Negaraku chairperson and former Bersih chairperson S Ambiga ( below ) and DAP Seremban MP Anthony Loke were detained last night along with 29 youths

PAS central committee member Hatta Ramli and PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli were also called to the police station this morning over the rally.

The arrests have sparked an outcry from other civil society groups such as Jerit and National Human Rights Society (Hakam).

NGO Jerit condemned the arrests as "malicious" and against the spirit of the day celebrating the working class and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of assembly.

"The arrests [...] are a malicious action by the police chief to punish activists who are calling for democracy in this country," said Jerit coordinator E Parameswary in a statement today.

"We assert the IGP's actions were made with malicious intent [...].

"This is because on April 25, Arutchelvan and PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu already met with Dang Wangi police chief Zainol Samah (over the rally).

"Zainol had given his guarantee to cooperate with the organisers, so why were the arrests made on the day itself?" she asked.

Despite the peaceful nature of yesterday's anti-GST rally through central Kuala Lumpur yesterday, the police unleashed a rash of arrests several hours after the rally ended at around 6.30pm.

The rally saw at least 20,000 protestors march from various points to Dataran Merdeka and on to KLCC to call for the abolition of the controversial Goods and Services Tax (GST).

'Blatant abuse of power'

Hakam meanwhile said Ambiga's arrest was "appalling" as there was "no unlawful assembly" and that the May Day Rally was "not a protest for any unlawful purpose".

Hakam secretary general Robyn Choi in a statement last night said the arrests represent "blatant abuse of police powers".

"Ambiga, Arutchelvan and Anthony Loke had at all times been cooperative with the police in their investigations and had obliged them by turning up at the police station as required.

"The police investigative powers to detain ought to be only be used against individuals sparingly where there exists flight risks or where there are risks of tampering with police investigations and evidence.

"The police in carrying out their duties ought to respect the rule of law and give effect to protecting and preserving the constitutional right to liberty of all Malaysians," she said.

Hakam, she said, calls on the police to act in a professional manner, particularly in the arrests of minors where handcuffs should not be used at all.

'Everyone rallies on May Day'

Other groups condemning the arrests include human rights NGO Proham, who said May Day is traditionally celebrated worldwide with public rallies.

"Hence, participation in such rallies is a fundamental right and consistent with universal human rights principles as freedom to assemble and expression.

"The police action to crack down on such rallies is uncalled for and is in violation of human rights standards," said Proham secretary-general Denison Jayasooria in a statement.

Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director Phil Robertson also condemned the arrests that he said would "raise alarm bells among international friends of Malaysia about just how far the powers that be in Putrajaya are dragging the country off the path of democratic, rights-respecting governance".

"Expressing views and holding a peaceful, public march should not be considered a crime in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world.

"These arrests are nothing short of outrageous," he said in a statement.