PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan had earlier also tried to negotiate with the police near the Chow Kit monorail station before being taken away by police officers, believed to be from the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

Arutchelvan, one of the key members of the Labour Day organising committee, was supposed to have joined others in the march from Chow Kit to the Dataran Merdeka.

In a a short press conference prior to his arrest, Arutchelvan told reporters that he considers the police obstruction to the peaceful march a "violation of basic right".

He also said that he had already informed the police prior to the march, and said such a notice is sufficient as opposed to a police permit.