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Thousands Mob Freed Malaysia Opposition Leader

Date: 25 Aug 1999
Time: 21:57:13
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Thousands Mob Freed Malaysia Opposition Leader Full Coverage Malaysia Political News

By K. Baranee Krishnaan

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysia opposition leader walked free from jail Wednesday after serving a year for sedition and was mobbed by thousands of political allies hoping he can galvanize a disparate opposition in elections.

Lim Guan Eng, leader of the youth wing of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), was released from Kajang prison outside the capital Kuala Lumpur shortly after daybreak and greeted by about 5,000 supporters shouting anti-government slogans.

``Let me say this loud and clear,'' said Guan Eng, who was hoisted on the shoulders of supporters and wore garlands of flowers around his neck.

``I am ready to be imprisoned a third time for being a Malaysian. I am proud to be a Malaysian,'' said a defiant Guan Eng, looking cheerful and healthy but a bit underweight.

Among the boisterous crowd outside the prison was Guan Eng's father and parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.

As Guan Eng spoke, excited activists shouted ``reformasi'' (reform), the rally cry of supporters of jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim who want to end Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's 18-year rule.

Police presence was light and there were no incidents.

Guan Eng was convicted in 1997 for publishing in 1995 a pamphlet, entitled ``Ceramah Kisah Benar'' (The True Story), which criticised the government's handling of allegations of statutory rape against a former state chief minister.

An appeals court later upheld the ruling and imposed two concurrent 18-month prison terms. He was released on good behavior after completing two-thirds of the term, but is barred from running for public office for five years from his release.

Guan Eng's conviction was condemned by rights groups and opposition leaders. He said Wednesday that he had been imprisoned ``for defending an underage Malay schoolgirl.''

Leaders from the four main opposition parties embraced Guan Eng. Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who created the opposition Parti Keadilan Nasional (National Justice Party) earlier this year, was not present. She was expected to attend a joint opposition rally with Guan Eng later in the day.

In a symbol of the opposition's struggle to bridge ethnic differences, musicians and dancers from the nation's three main racial groups -- Malay, Chinese and Indian -- performed.

Supporters released balloons carrying a banner bearing Guan Eng's name into the sky.

The four main opposition parties, divided by ideology, see Guan Eng and Anwar as unifying symbols in elections which must be held by June but are expected before the end of the year.

Neither Guan Eng nor Anwar, who is serving a six-year jail term for corruption and standing trial for sodomy, will be able to run in the next election.

But their cases have stirred debate over political freedoms in Malaysia, ruled since 1981 by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

``As you know, I cannot stand for elections. Mahathir has become the terminator. He has terminated my political career. I'm sure he will also terminate the career of other politicians,'' Guan Eng said.

Keadilan leaders have said Guan Eng could help bring together ethnic Chinese and Malays in the opposition. Guan Eng repeatedly cited Anwar and lashed out at Mahathir.

``As long as even one person is wrongly imprisoned, no one is free,'' he said. ``I say this because the most prominent prisoner is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.'


Last changed: August 25, 1999