20000116Malaysian opposition arrests likely-police

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior Malaysian police officer said authorities are unlikely to arrest more opposition members any time soon following the indictment of five prominent anti-government supporters earlier this week.

When asked if the police were likely to make any more arrests, senior assistant police commissioner Mat Zain Ibrahim told Reuters: "No. There is nothing of that sort. There's no one else at the moment."

Two prominent supporters of Malaysia's jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim and his lawyer were indicted on Friday in a crackdown that drew an opposition threat to mount public protests.

Mohamed Ezam Mohamed Nor, Anwar's former top political aide and youth leader of the Keadilan party run by Anwar's wife, was arraigned for violating the Official Secrets Act.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges in separate Sessions Courts.

They were among five people arrested this week in a move against opposition politicians and the Parti Islam se-Malaysia's newspaper, Harakah.

Harakah editor Zulkifli Sulong and its printer, Chia Lim They pleaded not guilty to sedition charges on Thursday.

Malaysian and foreign human rights groups have condemned the action. -Reuters