KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 ― The Otai Reformasi group said today that it will lobby 12 local councils in Selangor to seek an injunction against the removal of any “Bebas Anwar (Free Anwar)” billboards in the state.
Police personnel were pictured removing one such billboard in Ampang over weekend after Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar deemed the contents to be seditious.
The NGO pointed out today that the billboards were approved by the local council and the police actions were simply “wrong”.
“We will send a memorandum to 12 local councils and ask them to convene a meeting immediately,” said the group’s leader, Saari Sungib, during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
“They then can seek an injunction to challenge the taking down of these billboards,” he added.
Last week, Umno's Sungai Besar division chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos threatened to burn down the billboards if they were not removed, claiming the phrase “Tahanan Politik” (political prisoner) undermined the judiciary system.
He did not carry through with his threat, however, due to heavy police presence.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar later said that any police inaction on Jamal would “encourage him to do worse”.
“If they don't take action against him, it will encourage him further. God knows who he will target next,” Nurul Izzah said.
