Police: Rally speakers may be charged

Selangor police chief Hisan Hamzah says he may pursue sedition charges against most of the 33 speakers at the rally.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police said Thursday that speakers at a mass rally led by Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to protest against alleged election fraud could face sedition charges.

The announcement was swiftly condemned by Anwar’s party as a “politically motivated threat” aimed at silencing opposition claims that last Sunday’s hard-fought elections were stolen by the ruling coalition.

Vowing to “never surrender” as he addressed a sea of supporters at a rally in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Anwar late Wednesday announced that a series of protest gatherings would be held around the country.

During the rally attended by tens of thousands, dressed in black to protest at the election outcome, Anwar denounced the Barisan Nasional government of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as “illegitimate”.

Selangor police chief Hisan Hamzah, told AFP he may pursue sedition charges against most of the 33 speakers at the rally. He would not confirm whether Anwar would be among them.

“This is a very serious offence,” he said, declining to give further details. Sedition carries a penalty of up to five year’s jail.

“This illegal police investigation is clearly intended to divert attention from the massive electoral fraud and irregularities that are being highlighted by Pakatan Rakyat,” a statement by Anwar’s party said.

Police had earlier threatened to arrest rally participants, but with tension high over the country’s closest-ever election result, no police were seen.

Anwar has battled Barisan since he was ousted from its top ranks in 1998 and jailed for six years on sex and corruption charges widely seen as trumped-up.

He called for another rally in Penang on Saturday, with more to follow around Malaysia.

- AFP