PKR leaders get early morning police visits
Malaysiakini.com
Apr 15, 2008

The police this morning visited the homes of PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, Selangor menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim and party vice-president Azmin Ali over the Black 14 rally in Kampung Baru last night.

anwar ibrahim april 14 kg baru event 150408 21A three-member police team arrived at Anwar’s house in Bukit Segambut at about 6.30am to give notice of inquiry to his wife and party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on the gathering held to welcome the expiry on the five-year political ban on Anwar.

However, when the police were told that Wan Azizah was unavailable, she was then asked to be present at the Dang Wangi police station at 3.30pm today to give a statement.

The police have told her that the statement was relating to an investigation into a gathering which took place without a police permit.

Party deputy president Syed Husin Ali held an emergency press conference at 11am to give more details on the police action.

wan azizah summoned 150408 press conferenceAt the press conference, Syed Husin said that the police did not raise the issue of permit during meetings and correspondence between the parties.

“Why would we had held discussions with the police on traffic and security if they had problems with permit,” he asked.

"The legal status of this gathering was never raised neither during the discussion nor in the correspondence that followed. The gathering was in a private property," he added.

An act of intimidation

He said that the police action could be a result of  “political pressure”. It appeared that there was a police report on the said gathering, added Syed Husin. 

anwar ibrahim april 14 kg baru event 150408 11He also said that the police had also gone to the house of Yahya Sahri this morning for the same purpose. Yahya is Khalid's aide.

"PKR strongly protests police action against Wan Azizah, Khalid, Azmin and Yahya.

"They have been summoned by the police to present at Dang Wangi police station at 3pm today.

"They will only go there after receiving the police report that seemed to have been made against them," said Syed Husin. 

He said that the party considered the police action as an act of intimidation and provocation.

"The police seemed to act so speedily on this matter whereas they are known to have dragged their feet on reports that have been made by us and others on other matters." 

Wan Azizah not going to Dang Wangi

Wan Azizah was also at the press conference and she said that she would not be going to the police station this afternoon to give her statement.

wan azizah summoned 150408 wan azizah hold summon“I have a full programme today. I am unable to go to Dang Wangi,” she said.

At the same time, PKR lawyers are also demanding to see the police report on the matter before deciding if the other party leaders should go to give their statements.

She also said that Anwar was not in the country as he had left for Abu Dhabi early morning today. 

Last night about 20,000 people gathered at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman to hear Anwar’s first speech after Pakatan Rakyat’s overwhelming victory in the March 8 general election.

The rally also marked the end of Anwar’s political ban as a result of his corruption conviction. He is free to be involved in active politics from today.

The police have previously said that the gathering was illegal as it has no police permit. Last night the police also stopped Anwar from finishing his speech on the grounds that he has no police permit to hold a rally.

In response, Anwar said he would show a "good example" by ending his 60-minute speech and told the crowd to disperse.

Copyright © 1999-2007 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news//81372