KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — The words “Bebaskan Anwar” (Free Anwar) on billboards is fine, but declaring PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a “political prisoner” is inciting the public and needs to be removed or at least redacted, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.
The IGP said the police had informed the Selangor local council to remove the words “tahanan politik” (political prisoner) but they had refused to comply.
“I told the YDP (local council president), I am fine with the words ‘Bebaskan Anwar’. I think that is fine, I requested them to cover up the word ‘tahanan politik’ (political prisoner), but they refused. So what else can I do, they say we didn’t send a letter but we did. Check with the YDP,” he was quoted telling The Star daily today.
“We requested them to cover up or erase that wording. Bring it down before you provoke other people. As you see certain groups have been provoked by it.
“We have to be proactive and handle it at its roots.”
Video footage surfaced on Monday of police officers taking down billboards touting “Bebas Anwar” (Free Anwar) in Selangor.
Khalid said last Saturday that the words on the billboards describing the jailed former opposition leader as a political prisoner could be considered seditious and confuse the people.
The IGP then asked the local government authorities to remove the displays.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is also PKR deputy president, reportedly insisted that the advertisements were legal and that he did not see any reason to remove them.
