Anwar Ibrahim's family have urged their supporters to soldier on despite his failed bid to challenge his conviction over sodomy charges and jail sentence.
His wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who addressed some 200 supporters outside the Palace of Justice after Federal Court verdict today, thanked Anwar's supporters and urged them to remain steadfast.
"I see many of you still uphold the principle of our struggle until this moment... This has help me regain my spirit," she told the crowd of disappointed supporters who had already heard the bad news.
Regardless of the court verdict, Wan Azizah said, supporters must continue with the party's struggles. At this point, a supporter who was standing behind Wan Azizah broke down in tears.
Wan Azizah then led the crowd to chant "Lawan tetap lawan (the fight goes on)", a slogan created by Anwar during the reformasi era in the late 1990s.
'We will make them pay'
After Wan Azizah's speech, Anwar's eldest daughter Nurul Izzah addressed the crowd in an emotionally-charged speech.
"The hope (of Anwar being released) was so big, now (I am) a very disappointed.
"Throughout Anwar's life, there was almost 11 years that he spendt behind bars, and what he gave the family was not wealth, but the value of his struggle," she said.
Echoing her mother, Nurul Izzah said the struggle must continue, despite the setback.
"This is not the end. I am telling you, we will fight back. You (the authorities) will pay for every single injustice that you committed towards Malaysia.
"This is a mere temporary setback. I am asking all of you, including the media, everyone can make a difference... We should ask ourselves, what can we do to change the future?" said Nurul Izzah, in a forceful tone.
The Federal Court today dismissed Anwar's application to review the court's previous decision to deny his appeal against the Sodomy II conviction.- Mkini
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