Urban Wellbeing, Housing, and Local Government Minister Rahman Dahlan has demanded an explanation from the Selangor government over the #BebasAnwar signboards erected in several districts in the state.

He said that in the past, former executive councillor in charge of local government, Ronnie Liu, had disallowed the erection of signboards portraying political messages in the state.

"We have heard admonishments from the Selangor local government executive councillor (Liu) at one time saying that he would not allow local councils to put up statements or banners with political messages."

"I want to remind what (Liu) had once said – that all state local councils (must) refrain from using their facilities for political purposes," said Rahman.

He said this after launching the public roundtable on solid waste management in Kuala Lumpur today.

Yesterday, Umno Youth executive council member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah lodged a police report against Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali for purportedly allowing the erection of the #BebasAnwar signboards in several districts in the state.

On Monday, Selangor Umno had lodged a police report on the same matter, stating that the erection of the signboards was in contempt of the court decision which saw ex-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim sent to prison.

The Selangor government, however, defended the move , saying that it was no different from any other advertising contents that fill the space rented out by local councils.

He added that the PKR logo on the signboards was not political in nature but just to show who the sponsors are.

The state government also said that it had allowed even signboards with BN logos to be erected in the state as part of its policy of respecting freedom of information, and denied that the signboards are in contempt of the courts.