PM Mahathir denounced as Anwar leaves home

PM Mahathir denounced as Anwar leaves home

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): To cries of "Down with Mahathir!",
Malaysia's sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday
addressed several thousand cheering supporters outside a mosque
in the heart of the capital.

Anwar, under threat of arrest, ventured from his neighborhood
for the first time since his dismissal last week and prayed in a
packed mosque in the capital.

He then took a microphone and, his voice hoarse after a week
of speeches to supporters, spoke for about 20 minutes to the
agitated crowd which filled the mosque and spilled outside.

"The police are still investigating why I have been sacked and
shamed," Anwar said. "They have no proof, so they are still
investigating."

Anwar's foray into central Kuala Lumpur came hours before the
scheduled opening of the 16th Commonwealth Games which Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad was to attend.

Two policemen sat in a car nearby and one was stationed inside
the mosque, but they made no move to intervene, witnesses said.

The crowd which had gathered for Friday congregational prayers
intermittently interrupted Anwar's remarks, shouting "Reformasi"
(Reform), "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest), "Long Live Anwar" and
"Down with Mahathir".

Mahathir dismissed Anwar as deputy prime minister and finance
minister on Sept. 2.

While he has given no detailed explanation for the sacking,
Mahathir has said his former heir-apparent was morally unfit to
serve.

Anwar is under investigation over allegations of sexual
misconduct, treason and other crimes which he denies. The former
cabinet minister has said he was a victim of a high-level
conspiracy by political opponents.

Anwar has been delivering nightly speeches at his house before
thousands of supporters who have taken up the slogan,
"Reformasi!" (Reform).

Mahathir said on Thursday that police would indict Anwar once
they had gathered sufficient evidence, and the federal police
chief was quoted as saying the investigation was nearing
completion.

Anwar has said he might be arrested under the Internal
Security Act, which allows detention without charge, and
opposition politicians have said they fear a crackdown.

"If they want to use the police, use the courts, go ahead, I
will never surrender. We will never surrender," Anwar told the
crowd, which responded in chorus: "We will not surrender."

"If one falls, one thousand more will rise," Anwar said.

Some members of the crowd shouted at cameramen, telling them
to stop filming the gathering, but there was no pushing or
violence, witnesses said.

Anwar accused the government of having told the mosque
committee not to allow him to speak.

"I do not want the economy to be controlled by only two or
three people," he said. "We want to protect justice. We want our
Moslem scholars to be protected."

Anwar made light of newspaper allegations of homosexuality on
his part and numerous sexual liaisons. "Of course all the
prostitutes know me and some dream of sleeping with me," he said.

It was the first time Anwar had left his suburban
neighborhood on the western outskirts of Kuala Lumpur since he
was dismissed from the cabinet last week.

Anwar said he planned to travel to Bangi, near the site of the
Commonwealth Games complex, later on Friday.

The games' opening ceremony was set for Friday evening at 8:30
p.m. (7:30 Jakarta time) and was to be witnessed by King Tuanku
Ja'afar and Mahathir.