[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 10 Aug 1999
Time: 04:40:59
Remote User: -
Anwar's loyalists hold mini birthday party as police keep watch
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (AFP) - Truckloads of Malaysian police kept a watchful eye Tuesday over a small party held outside the federal court to mark the 52nd birthday of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim on trial for sodomy.
His wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail cut a cake while about 60 supporters sang happy birthday to Anwar on trial for the second time in less than 12 months after being sacked by his former mentor Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.
Wan Azizah, a political novice now heads up Anwar's National Justice party, an opposition party planning to challenge Mahathir's 18-year rule in upcoming elections due to be held before April.
At least 15 truckloads of riot police were deployed near the federal court, along with water cannon and a dog unit.
But the police presence failed to deter the supporters who raised up a giant birthday card outside the courthouse.
Anwar, fired and arrested in September last year, is serving a six-year sentence following his April conviction for corruption, when he was found guilty of abusing his position to cover up accusations of sexual misconduct.
He now faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of sodomy.
"We just came here to celebrate Anwar Ibrahim's birthday. We are not going to do anything. We are here just to show him we support him," said 30-year-old Jamil Ismail.
"We do not care where they put him, we still support him because he is the person who labours for Malaysians," he added.
Mahfuz Omar, youth chief of the opposition Parti Islam Semalaysia, told AFP the deployment of additional police was unjustified and provocative.
"I understand people will merely gather to celebrate with Anwar but the presence of the police will frighten them."
"This is one form of provocation ... to see a tense situation especially oustside the courthouse and to put the blame on the supporters of Anwar," he added.
Even the Judge Arifin Jaka wished Anwar a happy 52nd birthday.
Anwar is jointly charged with his Indonesian-born adopted brother Sukma Darmawan with sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar. Sukma faces a further charge of abetting Anwar to sodomise Azizan.
During the trial Tuesday, Azizan, a former driver, was suddenly taken ill after intense questioning and criticism from the judge.
Prosecutors told the court after a routine break that he had had to be taken to hospital, reportedly after suffering a migraine and vomiting.
The judge agreed to postpone the trial until Wednesday.
In Anwar's previous corruption trial Azizan alleged he was repeatedly forced to have sex with the former deputy premier. But he admitted under cross-examination in the trial that the allegations were false.
Judge Arifin -- who on Monday had criticised the evidence given by Azizan for the prosecution -- said he was not very intelligent.
"You see, you can observe when you put a direct question, he will answer. His IQ is not so high," he said.
Another supporter said Anwar's confinement did not deter them from organising the birthday party.
"We have held a successful birthday party even though it's small. Even if he is in prison, he is close to our heart ... that's our Malay culture. We do what we can for him," said Nasir Izhar.