Malaysia arrests 236 ahead of banned rally

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Police detained at least 236 people trying to assemble at a stadium and sealed off parts of Malaysia's largest city Saturday in an attempt to prevent a banned rally seeking electoral reforms.

The opposition-backed rally planned for Saturday afternoon is the culmination of weeks of pressure on Prime Minister Najib Razak's long-ruling coalition to make election laws fairer and more transparent ahead of national polls widely expected by mid-2012. The National Front has been in power for more than 50 years, but opposition gains in recent elections have spurred calls for change.

The Bersih coalition of civic groups organizing the rally has voiced hopes of attracting tens of thousands of people for what would be Malaysia's biggest political rally in nearly four years.

Many of the typically bustling commercial districts in downtown Kuala Lumpur were eerily empty on Saturday as authorities took extraordinary security measures by blocking numerous roads, closing train stations and deploying trucks mounted with water cannons near the Independence Stadium.

The federal police force said in a statement that it had detained 236 people in connection to the rally. Many were held at public areas where they gathered to start their walk to the stadium.

"The public is reminded not to be involved in any demonstration," the statement said. "Stern action will be taken against those who disobey."

Najib and other government officials have declared the rally illegal and accused opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's three-party alliance of endorsing it to cause chaos on the streets and undermine the National Front ruling coalition.

Over the past two weeks, more than 200 other activists have been arrested nationwide for trying to promote the rally. Six are being held under security laws that allow indefinite detention without trial. Most of the others were eventually released, but some were charged with laws banning activities linked to illegal assemblies. They face several years in prison if convicted.

The activists' demands include an overhaul of voter registration lists, tougher measures to curb fraud and fairer opportunities for opposition politicians to campaign in government-linked media.

Supporters of the Bersih coalition were also planning solidarity marches over the weekend in foreign cities, including in Australia, Britain, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and the United States.