Nine more people were arrested by the police for opposing demolition work at Kampung Jalan Papan in Klang today.
Jernell Tan of rights group Suaram said the nine comprised six leaders of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), two activists, and one Kampung Jalan Papan resident.
Tan also confirmed that PSM deputy chief S Arutchelvan and two other men had been remanded for one more day, following their arrest yesterday.
Arutchelvan and the two others were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing civil servants from performing their duties.
The PSM deputy chairman argued that they were only trying to halt demolition work on houses that had not yet been fully vacated, as families were still inside when the demolition took place.
He also claimed that one of the activists was arrested simply for requesting that the police postpone the demolition by two more days.
According to Malaysiakini, those detained today were PSM secretary-general M Sivaranjani, treasurer Soh Sook Hwa, and party members Aein Aneera Anuar, K Ramasamy, Tan Ka Wei and P Hridhay.
The activists arrested were Mandiri’s Wong Kueng Hui and Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia’s Fakrurrazzi Khairur Rijal, while the resident was Tang Bing Ai.
PSM and former Klang MP Charles Santiago had urged the Selangor government to halt the demolition of vacant houses at the village for a redevelopment project, amid fears that some 100 families would be displaced.
The state government said on Oct 23 that only vacant houses and business premises would be demolished. However, on Oct 27, the residents received a fresh notice to vacate their homes.
They have appealed to menteri besar Amirudin Shari to intervene and halt the demolition.
