Police silence Anwar's wife

Police silence Anwar's wife

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (AFP): Malaysian police refused permission for the wife of ousted deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim to address a gathering in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state, organizers said on Wednesday.

The police, aware Azizah Ismail was to be the guest of honor, gave permission for the gathering with the directive "that no speeches be made", the official who asked not to be named said.

"Azizah is bound by the gag order and will not hold a formal press conference," he said.

About 3,000 people attended the reception on Wednesday in a hotel 25 kilometers east of the state capital of Kota Kinabalu. It was organized by the Islamic Youth Council of Malaysia, once led by Anwar, to mark January's Eid al-Fitr celebration.