KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — The police have arrested 20 individuals who took part in a massive rally against the unpopular Goods and Service Tax (GST) in the capital city earlier today, lawyer Michelle Yesudas confirmed tonight.

Michelle, who was on the way to the KL police headquarters when contacted, said it was uncertain at this point what offence the 20 are being investigated for.

“It’s just 20 people that have been arrested, all brought to IPK (KL),” she told Malay Mail Online when contacted tonight, referring to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

Earlier, another lawyer, Latheefa Koya questioned on Twitter the police’s alleged use of Section 143 of the Penal Code, pointing out Malaysians’ right to peaceful assembly and the removal of the legal requirement to obtain permits for rallies.

Section 143 states that those who are members of an unlawful assembly shall be punished with a maximum six-month jail term or a fine or both.

Latheefa wrote in a subsequent tweet directed at the police’s official Twitter account.

[Translation: “peaceful assembly #BatalGST – but 20 arrested by @pdrmsia on what basis? what powers? do the police want to be sued? not bored yet”]

Activist Mandeep Singh confirmed that he received a call this evening from a police officer with the rank of Inspector asking him to “surrender” at the Dang Wangi police station.

“My lawyer, Latheefa, called and they said something about Section 143 of the Penal Code. When asked why, the Inspector could not answer.

“So they said they will wait for further instructions from higher-up,” the secretariat staff of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 told Malay Mail Online when contacted tonight, confirming that he was currently at the Dang Wangi police station.

Just three days ago, Mandeep was arrested at the same police station to aid in investigations over a March 28 #KitaLawan rally and was probed under the Penal Code’s Section 143 offence covering illegal assemblies.

There has been no report of injuries or casualties arising from the rally, which is said to have progressed peacefully in a march by a sea of thousands of Malaysians clothed in red and black.

Police presence was also minimal except for at the barricades around the capital city’s historic square Dataran Merdeka.

This evening, police claimed on their official Facebook account that the anti-GST rally in Kuala Lumpur was not fully under control, citing incidents of alleged vandalism and smoke bombs being thrown by the protesters to back up its claim.

The police also said protesters had brought children to the rally – an offence under the Peaceful Assembly Act.