The Bukit Aman Federal Police Headquarters Public Relations Officer, Penguasa Benjamin Hasbi asked Malaysiakini "Bolehkah kamu mesra dengan penjenayah?"
Why should the police regard Malaysians who are concerned about the verdict of the Anwar sodomy trial, which is a matter of great national and international interest, and want to go to Kuala Lumpur High Court to find out the outcome should be regarded as "criminals" and therefore not entitled to the "people-friendly" approach of the Police?
I call on everyone concerned, the police authorities on the one hand and the people who want to go to Kuala Lumpur High Court to exercise their fundamental human right to find out the outcome of the Anwar sodomy trial, to exercise the fullest restraint to ensure that there is no untoward incident whatsoever so that Malaysia can stand proud in the world to show that Malaysians can gather together for a common purpose without any fracas with the people and police showing the greatest mutual respect and understanding.
I fully endorse the call by Musa, not only to the police to be "people-friendly and not confrontational" but also to the people attending "not be provocative and restrain from any jeering, taunting and sloganeering".
Let there be an exemplary police-people co-operation to uphold the fundamental human right of Malaysians to peaceful assembly and ensure an incident-free gathering at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday on Anwar’s sodomy trial verdict.
(2/8/2000)