Street Demos Won't Change Court Decision: Hishammuddin

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said any street demonstration will not influence the decision of the court.

Referring to the proposed demonstraton for the 'Free Anwar 901' campaign, he said the public should not be too emotional and easily influenced if there were any group trying to incite them to join the demonstration.

"I wish to remind the people that the court case which would be decided soon has been proceeding for a long time. Why should this particular programme be carried out now?" he told reporters after attending a post-cabinet meeting, here Wednesday.

The gathering planned for Monday is said to demand for justice for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when the Kuala Lumpur High Court is scheduled to give its judgment on the sodomy case involving the Opposition Leader on that day.

Hishammuddin said police would not compromise on the attempt by the organisers to stage a gathering to the extent that public safety was jeopardised.

"What is of concern to the Royal Malaysia Police is security, public order and safety including those of the traders and hawkers. If it does not pose a threat, I see there should not be any problem.

At the same press conference, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said he had instructed Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh to have a meeting with the organisers on the proposed gathering.

On another development, Ismail again emphasised that police personnel did not use force when dispersing the illegal assembly organised by the student movement, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, after the New Year Eve celebration at the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim.

"So, you see for yourselves. We have shown the video. It's now on the You Tube. Judge for yourself who is telling the truth and who is not," he said, stressing that the police personnel were truly professional in handling the incident.