Penang PKR Youth will mobilise about 800 members all over the state to attend Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's appeal to the Federal Court on Oct 28-29 in Putrajaya.

 

State PKR Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin said the recently launched Rakyat Hakim Negara (People are the judge) campaign showed that the party's youth wings, at the national and local levels, are united in strongly protesting Anwar's five year jail term for Sodomy II.

 

"Let’s flood the Federal Court next week. We will get youths all over the country to show support for Anwar," Afif said in a press conference in Seberang Jaya today. He was accompanied by several state youth branch leaders.

 

Two flash mob events - at the Queensbay Mall on the island and Seberang Jaya Expo site - are being held to show support for Anwar.

 

The former deputy prime minister will be also be attending several ceramah in Penang and Kedah on Wednesday and Thursday. It could be his last visit to his parliamentary constituency of Permatang Pauh if he goes to jail.

 

On whether PKR can mobilise a crowd as large as the reformasi days in 1998 following Anwar's sacking from his DPM post, Afif ( left ) said the momentum usually built gradually.

 

"The situation today coincides with increasing prices in essential goods, most recently the rising cost of petrol and the implementation of the much opposed Goods and Services Tax in April next year.

 

"Anwar's court case shows that the corrupt system since 1998 still continues, and has not changed much although it has been 15 years since the ‘Reformasi’ struggle started," he added.

 

'Politically motivated'

PKR has maintained that the Sodomy II charge was politically motivated to end Anwar's career and dash his hopes of ever becoming prime minister should Pakatan seize the federal government.

 

The Court of Appeal had sentenced him to five years jail. Anwar has applied to the Federal Court for acquittal, while the prosecution counter-appealed for an increased sentence. 

Should Anwar lose his appeal, he will also lose his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat and will be barred from participating in elections for two terms.

 

Meanwhile, on pro-PKR NGO Lensa Anak Muda's call for Anwar to step down as people are "tired of him", Afif said the group was expressing the struggle they face as supporters of Anwar.

 

"To me, supporting Anwar is not just about his personality but it is about fighting the system. I don't see why we should stop supporting the greater cause for justice by not supporting Anwar.

"If Anwar retires, will the system change, will there be reforms?

 

"Will BN and Umno stop and change the country even if Anwar steps down? That is the big question," said the Penang state cabinet member.

 

"Even if our leaders like Anwar, DAP's Lim Kit Siang or PAS Abdul Hadi Awang step down, the struggle must continue," Afif asserted.