Police in Malaysia Arrest Another Opposition Activist

Police raided the home of an opposition leader Friday in the Malaysian capital and arrested him in what his party says is a crackdown on criticism of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

About 30 plainclothes officers arrested Badrulamin Baharom, a member of the National Justice Party’s supreme council, at his home in Kuala Lumpur early Friday, said his nephew, Nazaruddin Mohammed Ferdoos. Badrulamin is the eighth activist to be arrested in 11 days.

“They ransacked our house for about 45 minutes and then told him he was being arrested under the Internal Security Act,” said Nazaruddin, who was present at the raid.

He said the officers seized Badrulamin’s computer, political leaflets and party flags.

Police Chief Norian Mai confirmed the arrest but would not comment further.

The other seven detained activists were organizers of an April 14 opposition rally to mark the second anniversary of politician Anwar Ibrahim’s sentencing on corruption charges.

Nazaruddin said Badrulamin was not involved in planning the event.

Anwar has become a symbol of the opposition movement in Malaysia, which has been ruled by Mahathir for almost 20 years.

Mahathir fired Anwar, his popular deputy premier, in 1998. Anwar was later convicted of sodomy and corruption--charges that he says were trumped up.

Mahathir on Friday defended the use of security laws against the activists.

He said some groups in society must “give up their freedom” to protect other groups, such as merchants whose business could be disrupted by opposition demonstrations.

“The government needs to protect the freedom of these people,” Mahathir was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency.

“If they wish to hold demonstrations in the middle of the ocean, that’s fine,” he said.

The jailed activists have asked Malaysia’s High Court to order their release.

Judge Augustine Paul is scheduled to deliver his decision Monday.