Big crowd welcomes Anwar's return to electoral politics - NST

KUALA LUMPUR, Mon:

About 10,000 people thronged the Sultan Sulaiman Club tonight to welcome Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to electoral politics. Among the crowd was Parti Keadilan Rakyat president and Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, daughter Nurul Izzah, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR vice president Azmin Ali and Batu MP Tian Chua. DAP and Pas leaders also turned up for the event.

When Anwar arrived at 8.50pm, there were shouts of reformasi but no untoward incidents.

Police, including the Federal Reserve Unit and Light Strike Force patrolled the area but people were allowed to move about freely. There was also a large foreign media presence, including television crew.

Anwar, the PKR adviser, was banned from contesting any elections for five years after his release from jail following his conviction of corruption and abuse of power charges.

Tonight at midnight, the ban expired, allowing Anwar to be active in electoral politics. During the last general election he went around the country giving ceramah for his party's candidates as well as those from Pas and DAP.


However, about 30 minutes after Anwar spoke to the crowd, a dozen policemen went on stage to stop Anwar on grounds that he was addressing the rally, which had no police permit.

"The police chief has asked us to stop so we are stopping, but remain peaceful, because soon we will be running this country," Anwar told the crowd, who jeered police as the event was stopped.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20080414230303/Article/index_html]