KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysian police detained 53 activists Saturday in a crackdown on a planned opposition-led protest over inflation ahead of national elections expected within weeks.
Opposition groups wanted to hold the rally Saturday outside Kuala Lumpur's landmark Petronas Twin Towers to demand that the government forego a likely fuel price hike and prevent the cost of essential goods from rising.
Authorities said organizers had not applied for the legally required permission to hold a public demonstration. Opposition leaders said their application would probably have been rejected, noting that police had prevented several street demonstrations since November.
Police and a truck with a water cannon stood ready Saturday as more than 100 demonstrators tried to gather near the towers. Some shouted "Reformasi," the Malay word for "reform."
Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman said 1,300 police had been deployed to maintain order, and 40 men and 13 women were arrested for illegal assembly. They were expected to be held at least overnight while police decide whether to charge them.
Other would-be demonstrators lingered in the area for more than an hour before dispersing peacefully.
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