157 HEADED FOR ISA GATHERINGS ARRESTED

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Police arrested 157 people in several
locations in the city until 1.30pm Saturday as a security measure to prevent
them from heading to gatherings in opposition and in support of the Internal
Security Act (ISA).

The locations of the arrests included in the vicinity of the National
Mosque, at Merbok Field, Dataran Merdeka (Independent Square), the Central
Market, National Palace, Masjid Jamek and the Sogo shopping complex.

The arrests were confirmed by Kuala Lumpur Chief Police Officer Mohammad
Sabtu Osman.

Two non-governmental organisations, the Abolish the ISA movement (GMI); and
the Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah (Perwaris) together with the Pertubuhan Pribumi
Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa); who want the act to retained had planned to have
gatherings in the capital to voice their views on the matter.

Mohammad Sabtu said police had mobilised 5,000 personnel in the city to
monitor the situation.

Members of the Federal Reserve Unit were also seen at Dataran Merdeka.

Checks at the Sogo shopping complex found business premises there closed and
the workers, as well as the public, ordered to leave the area.

In east coast town of TEMERLOH, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein
reiterated that police would not compromise with those involved in illegal
gatherings and would detain them.

"I understand that certain quarters still want to go ahead with the
gatherings this evening, and my advise is for them not to do so or face police
action," he told reporters in Temerloh Saturday.
-- BERNAMA