Threats by an Umno-friendly group to torch a billboard calling for jailed PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim to be freed have fizzled out.

Instead, the group led by Sungai Besar Umno division leader Jamal Md Yunos hung a two-metre banner, with graphic details on sodomy, over the billboard.

"Anwar Ibrahim is a sodomist who has been convicted. This means he had inserted his penis into the anus of a man without consent," read the banner.

The banner was hung over the words ‘Save Anwar’ under the former opposition leader’s picture on the billboard, located at a busy intersection near the Ampang Point shopping mall.

Jamal was backed by a group of about 80 men, some who appeared to be teenagers, dressed in red T-shirts and carrying two ladders.

The group arrived at the intersection at about 3.15pm.

A fracas broke out when PKR MP Tian Chua’s aide Rozan Azen Mat Rasip told the group to stop. Police personnel at the scene controlled the situation.

Rozan, who was wearing a T-shirt which said ‘Anwar For Nobel Peace Prize’, later claimed that he was punched.

Earlier, the Bebas Anwar group in a statement warned Jamal he could face arson charges if he went ahead with plans to torch the billboard.

Jamal later delivered an ultimatum to the Selangor state government, urging it to remove all ‘Free Anwar’ billboards around the state in seven days.

“If you (the state government) fail to remove the billboards, we will return to burn them,” he said.

The firebrand Umno leader also suggested that these billboard spaces should be used to highlight issues that are more beneficial to the public, such as raising awareness about dengue prevention to curb the recent spike in cases.

“We believe this pro-Umno group intends to divert attention away from the problems currently faced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak,” said Rozan.

He also thanked the police for keeping the peace and controlling the crowd.