KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24, 2008: Seven people were arrested by police for defying orders to disperse at an anti-ISA ceramah at a field next to the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) in Pandan Indah late Sunday night.

The gathering of close to 100 people which was organised by the Anti-ISA Movement (GMI) and was supposed to see Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang as speakers was disrupted when police from the Ampang district police headquarters and members of the Federal Reserve Unit ordered them to disperse about 9.30pm.

When they did not do so, police arrested seven of them who were volunteers tasked to oversee the gathering.

Police said the gathering was illegal as the organisers did not have a permit.

As at midnight police were still at the scene and kept watch over the area to ensure members of the group dispersed. Those detained were taken to Pandan Indah police station to have their statements recorded but it was unknown if they would be released soon after.

Meanwhile, Batu MP Tian Chua, who got wind of the incident, told  theSun that he was disappointed with the double standard practised by police in dealing with public gatherings.

He said at 11am yesterday, two groups of about 100 people closely linked to Umno had carried out a demonstration close to the Jalan Tun Razak police station near Jalan Ampang on upholding the special rights and privilages of Malays.

"These groups had uttered sensitive slogans which can incite racial hatred and drive a wedge among races but the police just saw them through the gathering for two hours. Why this disparity? They did not have permits too and were doing something which warrants arrest." he said.

Tian Chua said the MPAJ had approved the use of the field for the organisers of the anti-ISA gathering and police should not have interrupted it.