Anwar’s Arrest-According to Sankara Nair

RPK issued a warrant of arrest (5pm)

Popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin is to be charged with criminal defamation – he has been ordered to surrender at the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters (IPK) tomorrow at 10am.

Statement from Anwar’s OfficeThis afternoon at 1:05pm Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister, was arrested outside of his home in Kuala Lumpur. He was due to issue a statement at IPK KL (Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters) at 2pm based on an agreement reached with the police on Tuesday.

Anwar was returning from the Anti-Corruption Agency to his home after giving a statement pertaining to the police report that has been filed regarding suppression of material facts in the case involving him in 1998. He was accompanied by his senior legal team, staff, and security.

As he entered the neighborhood of his home, a contingent of 10 police cars, half unmarked and half patrol, forced the two cars in Anwar’s entourage to stop.  

 

There was a contingent of 20 balaclava-clad masked commandos (UTK) who accosted him, reminiscent of the forces sent to arrest Anwar at his home in September 1998 (right).

An officer approached Anwar and demanded that he accompany the police in an unmarked vehicle to the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters. His lawyers were not permitted to travel with him to the police station.

This arrest has taken place less than 15 hours after Anwar appeared live on Malaysian television for the first time since 1998, and announced to millions of viewers his intention to stand for election, and upon the formation of a new government, to lower the domestic price of fuel by 50 sen. The overwhelming majority of Malaysians expressed their support of his televised statement.

These events are deeply disturbing to us and indicate that this entire episode is a repeat of the actions taken against Anwar in 1998.

 

During the last few weeks the government-owned mainstream media has demonised and vilified him. His staff has been harassed and we see a conspiracy being hatched to thwart the political change that is imminent in Malaysia.

Under no circumstances will the people of Malaysia and the international community tolerate any harm coming to Anwar. We remind Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi of the promise he made to ensure Anwar’s protection.

We have been able to communicate with Anwar, who calls upon his supporters and the people of Malaysia to remain calm and to reject any attempts at provocation, which will give a pretext for an emergency situation to be declared.

Office of Anwar Ibrahim

 

 

 

Comments from PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

She expressed disappointment with the police’s decision to arrest her husband Anwar Ibrahim.

Comments from Federal CID director Bakri Zinin (4.55pm)

The police were worried that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would not show up at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters by 2pm and therefore decided to arrest him. “He was arrested as we had reason to believe he was not going to show up. We wish to point out that Anwar had initially agreed to meet us on Monday but failed to keep his appointment.”

Comments from Syed Jamal Zahiid Malaysiakini at IPK

    

About 250 people have gathered in Jalan Hang Tuah outside the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters to condemn the arrest of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today.Supporters are chanting ‘reformasi’, holding up placards spelling bantah tangkapan Anwar (oppose Anwar’s arrest)and getting passing motorists to honk in support. More people are swelling the ranks of those there.   

 

A large number of foreign journalists are among those outside the police headquarters. News of the arrest has been flashed around the world, based on a check of news websites.

 

 

Comments from Wong Chun Wai(Group Editor of Star)

It looks like Malaysians would be going for another political roller coaster ride. Let’s fasten our seat belts.

Comments from Opposition

Opposition politicians criticised the manner of the arrest, calling it uncivilised. Yusmadi Yusuf, MP for Balik Pulau called it “uncivilised. Anwar is not a police threat.”

Karpal Singh called the action  high-handed intimidation while Azmin said he is outraged.

Hatta called the arrest unwarranted. “They took him from his car like a kidnapping. This is a provocation.” DAP’s Lim Kit Siang ,who is also there now, said, “This will erase public trust in independence of police.”

 

 Malaysiakini has the events that took place according to Anwar’s lawyer http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/86208

Copied from Malaysiakini source

“I was in the car with him when he was arrested. We were surrounded. Their (the police team) exact words were ‘you are under arrest’.”

Detained PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyer N Sankara Nair recounted this afternoon’s drama when met by reporters outside the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at about 2.45pm.

He said the police officers did not serve any warrant when arresting Anwar near his house in Segambut Dalam.

However, the opposition stalwart was not handcuffed when taken in a white Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD vehicle.

According to the lawyer, Anwar’s arrest had nothing to do with his non-appearance at the police headquarters on Monday.

“In fact, several minutes before the arrest, the investigation officer DSP Jude Pereira called us to ask if were coming. We replied that we will be there at 2pm sharp,” he said.

“If Anwar had not showed up at 2pm, I would understand the need to arrest. The police have breached the trust and confidence we once had.

“Now, my client has expressed fear that he will be subjected to intimidation by the police,” he added.

Sankara said the police must explain the purpose of arresting Anwar in such a manner.

He also stressed that under the law, Anwar does not need to provide the police with a DNA sample.

The police started recording the opposition stalwart’s statement at about 2.50pm on the sodomy allegation against him.

It is believed that PKR vice-president R Sivarasa - who is also a lawyer - is present with Anwar.