Jubilant Anwar supporters celebrate verdict
Amid the backdrop of heavy police presence and three explosions around the Kuala Lumpur court complex, a 56-year-old grandmother wheels her 10-year-old disabled grandson, along with her three-year-old granddaughter.
Amid the backdrop of heavy police presence and three explosions around the Kuala Lumpur court complex, a 56-year-old grandmother wheels her 10-year-old disabled grandson, along with her three-year-old granddaughter.
"Their parents are at work. I brought them along, to support Anwar. I've supported him since 1998," she exclaimed proudly.
The woman was among more than 5,000 supporters who converged outside the court complex this morning to hear the judgment in Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy II trial.
Many of them appeared resolved to the situation of Anwar being found guilty, but their solemness was tempered with defiance and determination to fight on.
"In this court complex, we know what has happened - all our cases in the Perak crisis we lost. We know what kind of judgment we will receive, but nevertheless, Malaysians will demand for justice," declared former Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar.
But the atmosphere quickly changed to confusion, and then excitement, when a supporter yelled, "Anwar is not guilty!".
As the verdict sunk in, the jubilant people in the crowd started hugging one another, while others held hands and began jumping in joy.
The deafening chants of "Reformasi" reverberated louder than it ever did.
‘Duty is to free the rakyat'
Inside the courtroom, it was an emotional vindication as Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail hugged her husband.
Emerging from the courthouse and thanking supporters, Anwar declared that the battle was far from over.
"We have heard that I am free. But this is not about the freedom of one man. Our duty now is to free the rakyat... Free the rakyat... Free the rakyat."
Several thousand supporters began to spontaneously spill onto the main road as Pakatan Rakyat leaders took the podium from the rooftop of the food court adjacent to the court complex.
Opposite the food court, at the Federal Territory Mosque where a handful of yellow-clad pro-Saiful (Anwar's alleged victim) supporters were camped, the Anwar supporters booed at them as they passed by.
Gazing at the rooftop, they waited for Anwar's arrival.
Despite the police warnings and stern rules prior to the rally, police made no effort to block the crowd from moving.
Crowds disperse after triple blast
The jubilation was dampened for a while when three explosions rocked the scene and injuried at least five people.
"The explosions were very loud, and my ear is ringing," said vendor Muhamad Tajudin Adnan, whose vehicle was damaged in the second explosion.
Alarmed, police quickly cordoned off the area and brought in sniffer dogs and a forensic team.
And when the third explosion occurred, police had began announcing through loudhailers: "Disperse immediately, the situation is unsafe."
Equally concerned, PKR vice-president Tian Chua informed the crowd that the celebration of Anwar's court victory would be held in Penang and he advised the crowd to disperse.
"Anwar had to exit from another gate for security reasons. I ask that everyone disperses," Tian Chua said.
