City police chief Fadil Marsus said the pair, aged 23 and 32, were arrested for obstructing policemen in discharging their duties.

He said there were about 50 protesters around noon and that the situation escalated after some participants started blocking traffic flow on Jalan Tun Razak. This led to a scuffle with a policeman, who was elbowed in the face and suffered minor injuries.

“An investigation paper has been opened under Section 186 of the Penal Code. The case is still being investigated,” he said in a statement.

Fadil added that policemen were only there to ensure the safety of protesters and members of the public.

He advised rally organisers and protesters to comply with the law when participating in peaceful assemblies.

“We respect the freedom granted to Malaysians to assemble peacefully and are ready to cooperate and offer support in terms of safety.”