APR 14, 2000

Organisers of the rally have been warned by the authorities that they have information on them and will not hesitate to arrest them
KUALA LUMPUR -- Police have threatened to use the Internal Security Act to arrest organisers of an opposition rally planned for tomorrow to commemorate the jailing of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

The announcement comes a day after Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and other opposition leaders were summoned by police and interrogated over a public meeting held last weekend. Activists called it a scare tactic ahead of the march.

Tomorrow will mark the first anniversary of Anwar's conviction on abuse of power charges. Opposition activists said thousands of supporters would meet at the capital's National Mosque and march to the king's palace.

Organisers have posted a highly-detailed schedule of the event on the Internet which includes train, bus and light railway timings, route maps and details of where various opposition supporters will join trains nationwide.

City Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Kamarudin Ali warned that police had information on the organisers and would not hesitate to arrest them.

He said that police had the power to arrest without a warrant anyone "planning to commit an arrestable offence".

"The ISA will be the last resort," he added, referring to the Internal Security Act, under which a suspect can be arrested without a warrant and held in detention without appearing in court.

DCP Kamarudin said police were planning to close several roads in the capital and were bracing themselves for a large turnout.

The religious authorities yesterday warned non-Muslim politicians and social activists to stay away from the National Mosque if their intention was to attend a political gathering.

"The planned illegal gathering is more of an attempt to instill hatred between Muslims and it would also affect race relations as well as national stability," said the Islamic Development Department.

It said it was inappropriate for an institution such as a mosque to be used in any way which could cause concern and disunity among Muslims. Meanwhile, Anwar yesterday accused the government of intimidating his supporters in a bid to thwart the protest tomorrow.

"The unsolicited warnings-cum-threats from police chiefs regarding the proposed peaceful gathering are most deplorable," he said yesterday in a handwritten statement distributed by family members during his current sex trial.

"The police must act professionally and not behave arrogantly as political agents or tools for the corrupt ruling clique."

Anwar said police constantly refused permits to hold peaceful gatherings -- necessary under Malaysian law which tightly restricts rallies.

In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that supporters of his party were planning a riot, Anwar said violence must not be condoned. -- AP, AFP, Bernama