PETALING JAYA, February 8 — Controversial preacher Zamri Vinoth and several others were arrested by police last night after a planned rally against so-called “illegal” houses of worship failed to materialise in central Kuala Lumpur.
Zamri was taken to the Dang Wangi police station, a move later confirmed by Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus, while those reportedly detained included lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla, Bersatu figures Shafiq Abdul Halim and Iskandar Khoo.
Ummah NGO member Hishamuddin Abu Bakar, PPIM’s Gulab Jan, and website owner Tamim Dahari Abd Razak. Police said one individual was also arrested for refusing to comply with instructions. The rally, scheduled for 9pm outside the Sogo department store.
Was blocked for security reasons amid a heavy police presence involving about 200 personnel, including the Light Strike Force, and a dispersal order was issued shortly after. Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had warned that any actions threatening public safety or stoking racial tensions would face “maximum action”.
Following the arrests, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer urged authorities to charge Zamri and others in court, as police continue investigations into the planned protest organised by a coalition led by Zamri.
