PKR vice-president Tian Chua, today denied he was trying to influence the five-member Federal Court bench that is hearing Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy II case, but was merely warning the BN government.

The Batu MP was quoted to have said at a gathering outside the Palace of Justice yesterday that they will gather at Dataran Merdeka this weekend if Anwar is sentenced.

 

"This will be a mark of the rakyat's uprising and a new wave to defend the opposition leader," he reportedly said.

 

Tian, who is also Batu MP, said the BN linked media was quick to twist the context when he said “there will be huge gatherings if Anwar were to be imprisoned”.

 

“The BN-allied media was quick to twist...and launched massive attacks on me. I was accused of attempting to influence the judgment by threatening to hold protest rallies. It is even insinuated that I tried to intimidate the federal court judges, by inciting people to attend assemblies.

 

“Such accusation is certainly baseless. Throughout my speech, I didn't touch on the behavior of the judiciary. On the contrary, the supporters of Anwar place high hopes on the judiciary to uphold justice,” he said in a statement today.

 

PPP also entered into the picture by describing what Tian said was seditious .

Tian clarified in his statement today his address was to warn the ruling political elite.

 

"In essence, I warned of the recurring of the phenomenon of Reformasi in the 1990s. Therefore Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his crony circle have no reason to be laidback and complacent. This essentially is the concept of 'Rakyat Hakim Negara',” he said.

 

Zahid: stay calm, respect decision

 

Meanwhile, New Straits Times today reported Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as urging the people to keep calm as street protests would not solve anything.

 

Zahid said no one should question the court, no matter what the ruling was.

 

“The process of the law has reached its maximum level (the apex court). The consequences and reality should be accepted with an open heart, whatever the decision,” he told the daily in a text message from Monaco where he is attending the Interpol General Assembly.

 

Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, who is also there, said the police will take action on those intending to take to the streets.

Khalid warned that the police would not issue any warning about the gathering this time as Anwar’s supporters knew the consequences of holding such an event.

“Protests via illegal street assemblies are prohibited and the police will act according to law.

 

“Police will deal with any protests against the verdict, whatever it may be, and will do the necessary to prevent any untoward incidents.

 

“We are ready and will not hesitate to detain them under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012,” he said.