Sarawak PKR is urging people to come out in full support of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in what could be his last visit to the state for a long time.

 

State PKR leader Baru Bian urged Sarawakians to come out in full force to attend a series of rallies in the state, bearing in mind that the Federal Court is expected to decide on Anwar’s Sodomy II appeal at any time.

 

“We invite Sarawakians to attend in large numbers to lend our support to Anwar Ibrahim and as a show of protest against a government that has lost its way,” said Bian ( right ), who is also the Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson.

 

Early this month, the Federal Court heard Anwar’s appeal against a conviction for sodomy and a five-year jail sentence by the Court of Appeal.

 

The de facto PKR chief is leading a delegation of national party leaders on a two-day visit to Sarawak as part the ‘Rakyat Hakim Negara’ nationwide tour.

 

Starting today, the group is visiting Kampung Logan Bunut, Tinjar, Baram, and Miri, where Anwar is expected to speak at two ceramahs.

 

There will be a series of party meetings in Kuching, as well as two public events in Santubong and Kota Samarahan, on Sunday.

 

‘Najib’s defence against imaginary threats’

 

Bian also said that apart from failing to honour his word that the Sedition Act would be repealed, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has instead pledged to add new provisions to the law.

 

“This is yet another cowardly act of a weak Prime Minister changing his stand and giving in to the extremists and hardliners in his party.

 

“Najib Razak, scared of the likes of Perkasa, Perkida and Isma, rather than defending the rights of all Malaysians against extremist bigots, chose to defend Malays and Islam against imaginary threats to their rights,” he said.

 

Bian said that Sarawakians should note the threat by the Home Minister to use the Sedition Act against those calling for secession.

 

He said under the ‘fortified’ Sedition Act, tnobody is safe, in view of the arbitrary and unjust application of the law by the authorities.

 

Even those who advocate for autonomy would be at risk of being caught in the dragnet eventually, said.

 

Bian added that members of the opposition, NGOs, and civil society who speak up for civil liberties, truth and justice, will be more vulnerable than ever to arrests and prosecution with this regressive move by the Najib.

 

“The spectre of the ISA is back to hang over democracy in Malaysia,” said Bian.