updated version

Nine students were arrested for allegedly trespassing into a Barisan Nasional by-election operations centre in Indera Kayangan but Keadilan today dismissed the claim that they are supporters of the party.

The party's deputy Penang chief Cheah Kah Peng claimed the arrest was "another dirty tactic" by Barisan Nasional.

Cheah, a lawyer and one of the possible Keadilan candidates for the by-election, is in Perlis to handle the matter but insisted that party leaders do not know the students.

The students, including three girls, are from Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. They were apprehended by security personnel at the Wanita BN operations centre at about 11.30pm last night.

Several hours later, police arrested the students and took them to the Kangar district police headquarters for questioning.

It is believed that the nine were arrested for trespassing under Section 448 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of one year or RM2,000 fine or both.

Four of the students were released at about 8pm today on the condition that they report back on Jan 21 while the remaining five are expected to be released within the next few hours.

Opposition spies

In a Bernama report this afternoon, Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim termed the students as "spies" and said the nine had admitted being supporters of Keadilan and PAS.

However, Cheah said BN leaders had "blatantly disregarded" the proper investigation procedure by police.

"They make allegations and statement while police are still investigating the matter," he added.

The Indera Kayangan by-election on Jan 19 will see MCA Perlis Wanita chief Oui Ah Lan taking on a Chinese Keadilan candidate who is yet to be named.

The seat fell vacant following the recent death of incumbent Khor Tiang Lee who was Perlis MCA chief