Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim has told the police that investigations against him for alleged sedition was a 'harassment and blatant abuse of power'.

His lawyer Sankara Nair said Anwar made his dissatisfaction known in a statement which was recorded by the police at his residence in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

The statement was recorded by Pasir Mas district police chief Zahari Ismail who had come here from Kelantan.

"In his statement, he (Anwar) told the police there were hundreds of reports which were far more serious including those against corrupt leaders but the police chose to act on a report which merely contained the opinion of one person claiming that he (Anwar) uttered seditious remarks.

"The report did not even specify what the remarks were," said Sankara when met last night.

Allegations denied

He said Anwar had not only denied the allegations made in the report dated Dec 13, 2005 but also advised the police to be more professional in their conduct.

As for the details of the report, Sankara said it merely stated that the former deputy premier made the seditious remarks during a ceramah (public talk) on Nov 27 at the Pasir Mas mini-stadium in Kelantan in the run-up to the Pengkalan Pasir by-election .

"It stated that Anwar uttered derogatory words against the police, judiciary and Umno. It was a very general accusation... what was it exactly that was said, we have no idea.

"That is why we see the entire episode as an attempt to muzzle freedom of expression," he added

Anwar had campaigned for PAS in the by-election which saw the Islamic-based party losing to its arch-rival Umno.

Sankara said he was still in the dark over the complainant's identity as the police had refused to divulge the details.

The sedition charge carries a maximum penalty of three years' jail and RM5,00 fine or both.

Police 'gem'

Anwar - who is currently a visiting professor at Georgetown University in Washington - returned to Malaysia yesterday for a three-day break.

Last night, he met some 100 well-wishers who camped outside his house and greeted his presence with the familiar chants of 'reformasi'.

Addressing the crowd, he raised the police report and had the crowd in stitches when he said: "Hundreds of reports were made against corrupt leaders. But no action was taken. Instead, I was chosen. It seems I am intan terpilih (chosen gem) to the police."

He also reiterated his criticism of the government for raising the price of fuel by 30 sen, adding that the opposition would reverse this decision if the people gave them the mandate to rule.