Supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim converged on his residence in Cherok To'Kun in Seberang Perai on Saturday, to participate in a rally dubbed the '100,000 people's assembly'.

The organisers - Free Anwar Movement - estimated that about 10,000 people attended the event between 3pm and midnight. The turn-out was much lower than what the organisers had expected.

The day-long event featured poems, songs and video-clips featuring Anwar's speeches and footage of previous reformasi gatherings.

An exhibition of paintings on Anwar and his family, together with framed pictures and news clippings, were displayed in the 'Galeri Pejuang'.

About 5pm, several groups - including students and residents of nearby villages - held a street demonstration along Jalan Cherok To'Kun, carrying banners and shouting 'Free Anwar', 'Reformasi' and 'Tangkap Mahathir' (Detain Mahathir).

Supporters then packed into a field in the village to listen to speeches by opposition leaders at a ceramah (political talk), which brought the event to a close. The crowd spilled over to the frontage of houses near the field.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat president and Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail launched the 'Free Anwar, the Political Prisoner' campaign. Also present were her deputy Dr Syed Husin Ali and PAS central committee member Dr Hatta Ramli.

Police advice

The organisers said they were pleased with the police for issuing a permit for the gathering.

Bukit Mertajam chief police officer Noor Rashid, who monitored the event in the afternoon, advised the organisers not to hold the gathering on the street.

"Just do it on the field inside the kampung, and you have to end the event at midnight," he told the organisers.

Met later, Wan Azizah, who is Permatang Pauh member of Parliament said, the massive crowd was a "clear indication that the party has not been severely affected by the recent defection of several of its leaders to Umno".

Wan Azizah said Keadilan is prepared for more members crossing over to Barisan Nasional, with the 11th general election being around the corner.

"You have better bargaining power when you can be used by the other side for propaganda purposes," she said.

"We hear from people who had left the party that there is (going to be) a fresh wave of our members crossing over to Umno. But we know that they are being lured by promises of getting something in return...of some personal gain."

Recently, Keadilan suffered a setback due to internal party squabbles and cross-over of 12 leaders to Umno. This followed Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor's fallout with his secretary Lokman Noor Adam last month.

Lokman accused Ezam of holding secret meetings with several Umno leaders including Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo and Deputy Education Minister Aziz Shamsuddin.

However, a statutory declaration filed on Wednesday by one of the group members - Perak Youth chief Zoolhelmi Yahya, who decided not to defect - revealed that the 12 were offered up to RM500,000 to rejoin Umno.

Khalid reinstated

Keadilan supreme council members took the opportunity to hold a three-hour emergency meeting from 5.30pm to deliberate on several party issues.

Keadilan leaders were mum about the discussions, but vice-president Tian Chua revealed that Lokman has until today to prove his claims against Ezam.

"We did not make a decision on Lokman (on his membership) but we discussed disciplinary procedures and how to handle his case," Chua said.

Lokmad had accused Ezam of lavish spending and mismanaging the Youth wing's funds.

It is learnt that the meeting also resulted in the reinstatement of Khalid Jaafar as editor of the party organ Seruan Keadilan.

Khalid had resigned from the post last year after publishing an article criticising several party leaders.

His re-appointment took immediate effect since Hanapiah Man, the former editor, was among the 12 who have rejoined Umno.