Thirteen local Penang NGOs have aligned themselves with Pakatan Rakyat to hold a series of activities to strongly criticise the Malaysian judiciary for jailing Anwar Ibrahim.

 

At a press conference held in Komtar today, the group was represented by NGOs like Suaram, Jingga 13, PasMa, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and Kerabat (Rangkaian Kebajikan Bekas Anggota Tentera Malaysia).

 

Spokesperson Lee Boon Heng said that the northern group was formed ad hoc following a resolution by Kita Lawan, a coalition of civil society groups and political parties, comprising mostly youths, to support the parliamentary Opposition leader.

 

To kickstart activities in the northern region, Lee said a ceramah is planned for Feb 22, a Sunday, in Bukit Gedung, Bayan Baru, at 9pm.

 

Other events following that include forums, flashmobs, signature campaigns, meetings with the public and sponsoring programmes in public universities and private colleges to raise awareness on Anwar's jailing.

 

These events are a build up to the mega-ceramah planned by the coalition in Kuala Lumpur outside the Sogo Shopping Mall on March 7, 4.30pm.

 

Kita Lawan held a gathering there last Saturday.

Around 400 supporters turned up to express their dismay with the judiciary.

'Not centred on Anwar'

Lee denied that these plans were centred on Anwar, or his family, and emphasised that the international community is "laughing" at the Malaysian judiciary.

 

"Prime Minister Najib Razak cannot remain silent about this, he must respond in a reasonable manner as the matter involves the dignity and credibility of the government," Lee said at a press conference today.

 

Key personalities who are expected to attend the events include Solidarity Anak Muda Malaysia leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegu Bard ( left ), sacked military officer Major Zaidi Ahmad, Northern region Bersih coordinator Toh Kin Woon, and Anwar's family members.

 

Another member of the group, Kumaresan Arumugam, said that BN often used tactics of political conspiracy when the country is facing an economic slowdown.

 

This is to divert the people's attention from the rising cost of living burdening Malaysians, he added.

 

"Anwar's imprisonment comes two months before the planned implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Apr 1," said Kumaresan, who is a Penang municipal councillor.

 

"The GST is expected to create anger among the people towards the BN government," he added.

 

Kumaresan chided the "ancient" tactic, which he said was "recycled" from the 1998 era when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister.

 

Anwar then served six years in jail for abuse of power related to his first sodomy charge, and this triggered the reformasi movement.

 

The Permatang Pauh MP is currently serving a five-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh for sodomy, which he has strongly condemned as a "political conspiracy" to end his political career.

 

However the Prime Minister's Office has insisted that the judiciary is independent, saying the sodomy accusation was raised by an individual and not the government.