The law allows detention up to 24 hours before needing to get an order from a magistrate....

even for a guy clad in a T-shirt bearing the words 'No to ISA' ?????

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Deepavali bash: Man held over anti-ISA T-shirt
Andrew Ong Nov 4, 08 5:14pm

Malaysiakini

His curiosity piqued, KS Oliver and two friends attended a national-level open house in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

However, Oliver's festive mood came to a rude halt when he ended up being detained by the police for three hours over his 'dangerous' T-shirt.According to the 27-year-old Malaysiakini subscription executive, the police considered him a possible threat to the VVIPs present, which included Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Relating his ordeal, Oliver said he and his friends had visited the event after seeing a banner in KL Sentral regarding the bash, which was taking place at a nearby car park. The three were passing through exhibition booths when the police confronted them and escorted Oliver - who was clad in a T-shirt which bore the words 'No to ISA' - to a beat base in the vicinity. "I asked why I was detained and they asked why I wore this T-shirt. I asked what was wrong with the T-shirt and they said I could be a threat to the VVIPs present." "They gave me two options: Remove the T-shirt or remain at the police booth until the VVIPs leave. I refused to remove my shirt and chose to stay," he said.

Repeatedly quizzed during his detention, Oliver said he was repeatedly questioned by several police personnel about his background and purpose of attending the event. "I had to repeat myself like a tape recorder. At one point, one police officer asked if I was paid to wear the T-shirt," he said, adding that he wished the authorities would respect the freedom of expression.

However, Oliver said the police were professional and cordial throughout his detention.

Contacted later, Brickfields district police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Ibrahim said Oliver was detained for documentation purposes and for the police to determine his reasons for being at the event."We needed to establish if he had any bad intentions," he said. On the duration of the detention, Wan Abdul Bari said the law allows detention up to 24 hours before needing to get an order from a magistrate. The national-level Deepavali open house is an annual event organised by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.