Some 30 PKR Youth members staged a peaceful protest outside the Masjid Jamek Seberang Jaya in Penang after Friday prayers this afternoon.

NONE Led by PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, they called on the federal government to let the Syariah Court hear Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case as well.

They said the syariah proceedings can run concurrently with the civil proceedings.

Anwar has been accused of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. The PKR supremo has denied the allegation and accused the government of hatching 'another plot' to topple him.

Using a loud-hailer, Shamsul chided Mohamad Jamil Khir Baharum, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs for saying that a Syariah Court trial can only take place after the civil court had concluded its proceedings on Anwar's sodomy case.

NONE Shamsul ( left ) claimed Mohamad Jamil's reply in Parliament to Kulim MP Zulkifli Noordin showed his contempt for the Syariah Court.

"Jamil's reply had undermined and tarnished the independence, dignity and integrity of the Syariah Court and Islamic laws in the country," he said.

The youth leader said Jamil's answer contravened the Federal Constitution, which placed the Syariah Court on par with the civil court.

He recalled PKR supremo Anwar's complaint against Saiful with the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department on July 9, 2008.

The complaint, referred to as qazaf in Islamic law , is to request a probe into 'false allegations' pertaining to adultery or sexual misconduct.

Shamsul said despite the complaint and subsequent statements recorded from Anwar, 62, and Saiful, 24, the religious authorities were yet to put the case on Syariah trial.

He said Syariah had the power to conduct its own separate trial on the crime of qazaf.

Nationwide demonstration

Shamsul said the events related to Anwar's 'Sodomy 2' case clearly exposed a conspiracy by Umno and the BN government top leadership to get rid of the opposition leader from the country's political scene.

He cited the civil court attempts to fast track the trial after dismissing Anwar's application to quash the charge altogether as among the reasons to back his claim.

"The High Court is insisting on proceeding with the trial even though preliminary trial proved that there was no medical evidence of anal penetration, a pre-condition for a sodomy charge," he said.

He also cited the Appeals Court decision not to order the prosecution to submit the evidence to the accused as among the reasons for him to believe that certain unseen hands were at work to jail Anwar.

NONE The protest, which was held without a permit, started at 2pm and lasted for about 20 minutes.

The PKR youth leaders and members held up pro-Anwar banners amidst chants of 'Reformasi' , 'Undur Najib', 'Undur Anwar' and 'Allahu-Akbar.'

The protestors dispersed peacefully following advice from Inspector Ahmad Hamzah Kasdi from the Seberang Perai Tengah district branch.

Seberang Jaya state constituency comes under Anwar's Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

Shamsul said today's protest is the start of a nationwide after-Friday prayer-demonstration organised by PKR. It will cover seven other states until Anwar's trial begins on Jan 25 next year.

PKR will also launch its '40-public rally programme' at the Kulim indoor stadium this month.

NONE Starting from Kulim, the party will hold 40 rallies across the country to explain Anwar's sodomy charge and the alleged conspiracy to topple the Pakatan Rakyat leader.

Shamsul said PKR will also utilise the cyberspace through Facebook and blogs to disseminate information on the case.

"We are convinced that the current sodomy case is the exact déjà vu script of the first sodomy case hatched in 1998.

"But we would like warn the authorities that this time the people would not just sit back and watch the dirty tactics put to work.

"Justice must prevail. Or else we will take our case to the streets to seek justice," said the youth leader.