Reme Ahmad in Singapore talks to
Hazlin Hassan in KL
RA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was charged in court with sodomy this morning in Kuala Lumpur. What was the scene around the courthouse like today?
HH: Roadblocks at major roads leading into the capital caused a massive gridlock this morning. Dozens of riot police, officers and traffic cops stood guard around the sprawling court complex in case his supporters started any protests.
There were about 100 supporters swarming around Datuk Seri Anwar as he made his court appearance today. They chanted "Reformasi" or reform, the popular battlecry during his first court trial in 1999 over a similar charge.
RA: What about opposition leaders from the DAP and PAS? Were they there? Did they say anything? This is important since they have to work together in the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election, right?
HH: Leaders from the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party and Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia were all there. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PAS vice-president Husam Musa and PAS MP Lo'Lo' Ghazali were in court to show their support.
Anwar's allies in the opposition alliance urged the government to drop the prosecution, which they said would harm the country's standing globally.
DAP's Lim Kit Siang said: "It is totally against Malaysia's interests and international reputation – the country is in the dock, it is not just Anwar on trial."