Malaysian police arrest more Anwar aides

Malaysian police arrest more Anwar aides

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian police moves to arrest acquaintances of ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim are part of a government campaign of fear and an "omen" of more to come, a human rights group warned on Wednesday.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang warned separately of mass detentions under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) following the arrests of more associates of Anwar.

"The arrests, in light of the current tense political situation in Malaysia, (are) not only an opportunistic attempt by the government to create fear but they are also politically motivated," the rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said.

Suaram noted that unlike the earlier arrests of Anwar's adopted brother and a private secretary, the latest arrest of a Pakistani publisher was under the ISA.

"The recent endeavors by the police and the use of the ISA is an omen that more widespread arrests will follow," a statement said.

"Suaram fears that more people will be arrested under the ISA -- an act which conveniently allows for detention without trial," it added, noting that the act also legitimized "gross violations of human rights."

Anwar himself said on Wednesday he expected to be detained after the Commonwealth Games, accusing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of trying to "harass" him by arresting his friends, staff and family members.

Asked if he expected to be picked up, Anwar told the BBC: "The idea is to wait until the Queen of England leaves Kuala Lumpur at the end of the games."

Queen Elizabeth II is due to take part in the closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in the Malaysian capital on Monday.

Anwar says the allegations against him -- ranging from sexual impropriety, bribery and jeopardizing national security to interfering with police investigations, abuse of power and sedition -- are part of a high-level conspiracy.

"These are very serious allegations indeed and they could not have happened without the approval of the highest authorities in the land.

"That could only prove my earlier assertion that there is a high-level political conspiracy against me and that the allegations are a series of fabrications," he told the BBC.

Anwar said his supporters had been contacted by prostitutes who said they had been threatened with detention if they did not give evidence against him.

Police may press charges against Anwar for holding public gatherings without permission, newspapers reported on Wednesday. Police Inspector-General Rahim Noor was quoted as saying that Anwar's gatherings since his dismissal two weeks earlier had contravened the law.

"Being a former cabinet minister, he should know better than to set a bad example. We will take legal action against him if he flouts the law," he said.

Rahim also told reporters to "be patient" when they asked if Anwar would be arrested in connection with various allegations against him.

He confirmed the detention under the ISA of the Pakistani acquaintance of Anwar, identified as Munawar Anees, the editor of a defunct English-language quarterly covering Islamic affairs.