Bernama report blames Anwar

The national news agency's report claims that the opposition leader told some 5,000 protesters to head towards Dataran Merdeka.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim urged some 5,000 protesters gathered at the national mosque here to march towards Dataran Merdeka in spite of “whatever happens”, according to Bernama.

The national news agency claimed that the PKR supremo told the demonstrators not to become dispirited or fearful of getting arrested by the police.

The report also said that several people had vented their frustration over the protest on Twitter, with some saying the rally had been hijacked by political parties for their own hidden agenda.

One person tweeted: “Why are (Bersih chairperson S Ambiga) and Bersih making false accusations at SPR (Election Commission) for just some few shortcomings? It seems they have a hidden agenda here.”

Another wrote: ” (PKR deputy president) Azmin (Ali) has literally hijacked Bersih’s main agenda and is turning this demo so political. Anwar, no different.”

This afternoon’s rally, which was touted as a peaceful gathering of Malaysians to demand free and fair elections, turned chaotic when protesters tore down the barricades at Dataran Merdeka.

The police had obtained a court order preventing Ambiga, Bersih steering committee members and the public from holding their sit-in protest at the iconic venue.

While Ambiga had advised the protesters not to cross the barricades, the crowd however chose to do so.

Since his sacking from the government in 1998 and the birth of the Reformasi movement in its aftermath, the government had always accused Anwar of riling up the people to protest on the streets.

Following his dismissal, the former deputy premier was detained under the now abolished Internal Security Act after leading a mammoth street protest, which coincided with Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Malaysia for the Commonwealth games.

However, opposition leaders had always blamed the police’s agent provocateurs for instigating the crowds at protest.

The Barisan Nasional government had always been sensitive about street rallies, and often sanctioned the firing of tear gas and water cannons to quell dissent, a move often condemned as dictatorial.