About 10,000 people thronged the Sultan Sulaiman Club Monday night to welcome Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to electoral politics.Among the crowd was Parti Keadilan Rakyat president and Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, daughter Nurul Izzah, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR vice president Azmin Ali and Batu MP Tian Chua. DAP and Pas leaders also turned up for the event.
When Anwar arrived at 8.50pm, there were shouts of reformasi but no untoward incidents.
Police, including the Federal Reserve Unit and Light Strike Force patrolled the area but people were allowed to move about freely.
There was also a large foreign media presence, including television crew.Anwar, the PKR adviser, was banned from contesting any elections for five years after his release from jail following his conviction of corruption and abuse of power charges.
At midnight, the ban expired, allowing Anwar to be active in electoral politics. During the last general election he went around the country giving ceramah for his party's candidates as well as those from Pas and DAP.
However, about 30 minutes after Anwar spoke to the crowd, a dozen policemen went on stage to stop Anwar on grounds that he was addressing the rally, which had no police permit.
"The police chief has asked us to stop so we are stopping, but remain peaceful, because soon we will be running this country," Anwar told the crowd, who jeered police as the event was stopped.
At a press conference held minutes later, Anwar said he has the support of enough defectors from the Barisan Nasional to seize power.
“However, I will not act until I have a bigger majority,” he said.
“Yes, we have enough MPs to topple the government. We are saying here for the first time that we are ready (to rule the country) but we will only enter when the majority is comfortable.”
( YB Wee Choo Keong's estimate was 20,000 . And I would think so, judging from the size of crowd in the photo.)
Source: the NST online
Pix: Courtesy of Hard-T
11 comments:
To get a clearer picture and more analysis, check:
http://themalaysianinsider.com/mni/
Selangor Ecxo member Ronnie Liu says the number was 30,000.
http://colour-blind.org/wordpress/?p=655
Anyway, he is back. Good is good.
I think the number was even bigger than 30,000. Just look at this unclear YouTube video and the Reformasi cry. What a spirit.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rAh1EjVAbmw
Some choice photos of the Historic Second Merdeka Gathering:
http://edyesdotcom.blogspot.com/2008/04/ribuan-sambut-anwar-bebas-berpolitik.html
How to spin a story.
Black 14 Dinner Turns Into Illegal Gathering, Say Police
KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- A so-called Black 14 dinner organised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) at the Sultan Suleiman Club in Kampung Baru Monday night turned into an illegal gathering of what police estimated to be 7,000 people.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the people began to gather at 8.30pm and dispersed at 10.30pm on the orders of Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman.
"The application made to the police on April 8 stated that a dinner was to be held and that only three top leaders of the party would give speeches but there was no dinner for the people, only for the party leaders," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters here Monday night.
He said the three top party leaders who were to have spoken were PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Sultan Suleiman Club deputy chairman Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad and not PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The gathering was held to celebrate the end of the five-year ban on Anwar holding public office following his conviction on corruption charges. Anwar was convicted of corruption after he was sacked as the deputy prime minister and finance minister in September 1998 and sentenced to six years in jail.
Asked why a permit was required for a gathering at a private club, Muhammad Sabtu said it was not a function held indoors.
"The ceramah (talk) contributed to traffic congestion and the presence of the large number of party supporters posed a hazard for the public and night market traders in the vicinity of the club.
"It is an offence to hold a gathering or meeting without a permit and Section 27 (3) of the Police Act allows the police to stop any gathering or meeting held without a licence," he said.
Kuala Lumpur Police, comprising 1,350 personnel including Federal Reserve Union (FRU) and General Operations Force personnel, began to control traffic flow from about 4pm, he said.
Muhammad Sabtu said no arrests were made but the police were looking at the legal aspects to determine whether to make arrests later.
"The police did not arrest anyone Monday night but arrests may be made depending on the investigation, and even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not be exempted if it is found that he had violated the law," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Dear Kak Ton,
The Sun reports today that the police estimated the crowd to be 7000 only. Buta gamaknya polis tuh...
Dengan Izin dan Budi Bicara Tuan Punya Blog yang dikasihi,
Foto-Foto Terkini "PERHIMPUNAN RAKSASA RAKYAT DI DEWAN SULTAN SULAIMAN", KG. BARU, KL. Tarikh:14hb. April / Masa: 8.30pm - 10.30pm (Sejarah Tercipta!)
Foto-Foto Eksklusif Hanya Daripada
theindiestory.blogspot.com
CHECK IT OUT! tq
Anwar Ibrahim ????? Oh nooooo, he is also a penipu & perompak same like others. With his kerajaan tiga beranak, they can do wonders too ! Enough said laaaaa ....
I dont think the police, although looking like wanting to have something of a say (or action); would do anything as stupid as going after DSAI. Or anyone for that matter. Nothing in the scale of 'Demonstrasi' or 'Keganasan' is happening. So whats the need (by the police) to further the issue. The only scale that big enough to swallow KL yesterday is the number of turnouts, which i personally estimated at somewhere around 15-20 thousands.
MAS!
I got an almighty, tsumani,...shock when The NST was delivered home - 6.30am & the Headlines Read:GET ON WITH THE JOB!
Even the NST is buckling under MAKHAL SAKTI!
What more , the real Barisan MPs. Some 30 is all that is needed - there are some decen ones who were voted in this time!
Hey, Decent MPs: cross the line - remain as U are - do not worry about parties - U were elected by the people - not your party - just cross & remain backbenchers!
Ver,Simple & Very Very Constitutional - The Courts will ensure that!
Cheers!
jeyapalantsmahesan@blogspot.com
From my experiencing attending the gathering as in my photo show, I think it just about not more than 15000. Because my pictures on Melawati Stadium is about 20000 but Harakah said 25000. Impossible Padang Kelab Sultan Sulaiman bigger than Stadium Melawati :)
By the way its a huge crowd also!!!
REFORMASI
@ http://whitenaval.wordpress.com
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