Claims that a massive rally in support of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would be held, turned to be just that when only a handful of people turned up at the Jalan Duta court complex for his second sodomy charge in 10 years.

Yesterday, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar said the movement was trying to gather 5,000 to march to the court complex to protest against the charge which they say is trumped up.

anwar sodomy 2 duta court hearing pkr leaders 080709 18 This morning, fewer than 100 supporters - most of them wearing black - were seen at the court complex where they briefly chanted 'Long live Anwar' and 'Reformasi' under the watch of a similar number of police personnel.

Even the police did not buy the mass-rally claim and did not bother with the obligatory roadblocks leading towards the court complex, in sharp contrast to the first few times that Anwar was brought there last year which saw hundreds of PKR supporters gathering.

Shamsul explained that many supporters had gotten wind last night that the case would most likely be postponed, as it is a known fact that Anwar's lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah was still under observarion in hospital.

"A lot of people thought the case would be postponed. The trial also coincides with the Manek Urai by-election (in Kelantan). A lot of our people are there," he said.

However, he hopes that a bigger crowd can be assembled on July 15 when the trial resumes.

'March' ado about nothing

Earlier today, Shamsul led some 30 party supporters from the Jalan Duta bus station in a march towards the court complex some 500 metres away.

anwar sodomy 2 duta court hearing pkr leaders 080709 08 The group was stopped by some 20 police personnel at the exit of the bus station, leading to a comical situation with the police insisting that the group proceed to the court complex by car.

This resulted in some confusion and elicited howls of protests from the crowd, who demanded to know why they were not allowed to walk.

The confusion was somewhat cleared up when one member of the group shouted "walk one-by-one" and the police relented after apparently deciding that this did not contravene any traffic or other laws.

Batu MP Tian Chua however was the last to leave the bus station because he was physically held back by the police.

"That was so uncalled for. We were just walking, without placards or chants. Is that a crime? I hope the police will apply legal knowledge when exercising their duties," said Shamsul, a lawyer by training.

Elderly man arrested

A minor commotion broke out at the court complex when an elderly man was arrested for distributing DVDs with the title Bubar DUN Perak (Dissolve the Perak assembly).

The man, identified as Tan Kim Huat, 63, was among a group of Perak PKR supporters who had chartered a bus from Ipoh to show support for Anwar.

anwar sodomy 2 duta court hearing pkr leaders 080709 19 Contacted later, Perak PKR deputy chief Dr Lee Boon Chye said Tan was quizzed by the police for about two hours.

Lee also criticised the police for making the arrest.

The police recorded statements from Tan for distributing the DVD, as it did not show information about the producer.

Lee said the Perak Pakatan Rakyat produced the DVD and that it contains footage of the chaotic May 7 Perak legislative assembly proceedings.

He said the police action today was a form of double standards since MCA has publicly announced that it will distribute hundreds of thousands of copies of the Barisan Nasional-version of the sitting.

Tan has been released on police bail, according to Lee, who accompanied him to the Sentul district police headquarters.

VIDEO | 10 mins