NGOs Lodge Police Reports On 'Free Anwar' Campaign

NGOs Lodge Police Reports On 'Free Anwar' Campaign
Malaysian mirror, December 30, 2011

KUANTAN -- Eleven non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Pahang on Thursday lodged police reports on the move by the opposition parties to hold a campaign and stage a "Free Anwar" gathering on Jan 9.

A spokesman for the NGOs, Ngah Ismail who is also the secretary of the Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islamiah dan Dakwah (PEKIDA) Kuantan district, said the reports were made to protest against and prevent the "Free Anwar" campaign which was described as a provocation on the court case involving Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

"The gathering shows as though our country has no law and they can also be perceived as breaking the law and acting in contempt of the law.

"It may also lead to chaos, unrest and disunity among the people of Malaysia," he said when met at the grounds of the Kuantan district police headquarters, here.

Among the NGOs making the reports were PEKIDA, Pertubuhan Kerabat Pusaka Merong Mahawangsa Malaysia Wilayah Timur, Beserah youth association, and Bukit Setongkol youth association.

Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, a Malay right-wing movement, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), lodged two police reports urging for an investigation on the mastermind for the Jan 9 gathering as well as the statement by a priest who questioned Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

The report against the Jan 9 gathering was made by Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali while the report against the priest was made by his deputy, Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar.

The reports were lodged at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters at about 2.30pm.

The High Court will decide on Jan 9 on the case against Anwar who is charged with sodomising his former personal assistant, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, three years ago.

Meanwhile, Abd Rahman said police should investigate the statement by the priest recently which carried seditious elements and could jeopardise racial harmony.

Last week, the chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, Dr Eu Hong Seng questioned Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, saying that it was akin to 'bullying' if it only protected the rights of one group.

(Bernama)