Despite the incarceration of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, hundreds of his supporters gathered at the gates of Sungai Buloh Prison last night in a defiant show of solidarity.

They held up banners and candles as they loudly and enthusiastically chanted slogans such as “Reformasi” and “Bebas Anwar” (Free Anwar).

“Louder!” egged PKR youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, when it was his turn to speak, “So that Anwar can hear you.”

The 300-odd supporters began arriving shortly before 9pm, just as about 20 prison guards bearing shields and batons formed a line in front of the prison gate.

Separating the two groups was a razor wire barricade that stretched across the prison entrance road named Jalan Harapan, while several police personnel kept watch from the periphery of the peaceful crowd.

The gathering lasted about two hours. Apart from landscaping plants in front of the prison catching fire from the candles - which were quickly stomped out by the participants - there was no untoward incident throughout the vigil.

Among the multiracial crowd was 58-year old Nasir Isa and his friend 40-year old Masnah Ahmad, who said they met each other while participating in the Reformasi movement in its beginnings in 1998.

'It appears that tyranny will continue'

“We are from the ’98 Generation. We will come (for Anwar), forever,” Nasir told Malaysiakini.

“We are sad and disappointed with the system,” Masnah added, “Hopefully there is still hope, but it appears that the tyranny (kezaliman) will continue.”

Many in the crowd were from a much younger demographic, such as university student Leong Yung Hong, who took a 40-minute drive from Puchong to attend the rally.

He came carrying a mirror, with a sign below it that read, “Police force. Look at your true selves”.

Leung said he came to show support for Anwar because he felt the PKR leader was unfairly imprisoned, and that the evidence given by Anwar’s accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan should not be considered valid.

“Anwar was charged under Section 377B (of the Penal Code), but he should have been charged under Section 377C instead because Saiful claimed he was sodomised against his will.

“This is a strange point, because why charge Anwar under 377B that deals with consensual sodomy? If you charge under Section 377B, Saiful should be charged as well.

“So I see the decision as lopsided,” Leong added.

One prays Anwar can come out soon

Meanwhile, a civil servant who declined to be named over fear of repercussions, appeared to be at a loss for words over Anwar’s imprisonment.

“I feel very sad, but I don’t know how to say it. I hope and pray to God that maybe he can come out. No need to wait that many years, maybe in one week,” she told Malaysiakini, adding that she knows Anwar personally.

Anwar arrived at Sungai Buloh Prison under heavy police escort on Tuesday, after the Federal Court upheld a five-year jail sentence against him for sodomising his former aide Saiful.

Despite this, Anwar has maintained his innocence and claimed that the charges were politically motivated.

In his opening speech to the crowd, PKR vice-president Tian Chua (left) told Anwar’s supporters of his own experience in prison, and that shows of solidarity such as the candlelight vigil were meaningful to a prisoner.

“When you are in prison, every day counts. Every second counts. And most likely, you don’t have a watch, you don’t have a calendar, but you have to stand days and nights in your cell alone.

“News that there were people supporting you, small pieces of writings that reach your hand, and the support from outside, gives you the strength to continue.

“As someone who has experienced imprisonment, I am very grateful and thankful of all of you who have come,” Tian Chua said.

He was previously detained for two years under the Internal Security Act, from 2001, for his involvement in the Reformasi movement, and he had been in and out from police lock-ups for various reasons.

In his speech, Tian Chua who is also known by his real name Chua Tian Chang, said the candlelight vigils would go on every night until Anwar’s release.

Other speakers at the vigil last night were PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, Selangor state executive councillor V Ganabatirau and PKR information chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.

Near the end of the speeches, party workers distributed postcards printed with Anwar’s address in prison, with the message, “You are not alone. We shall reclaim justice. We shall reclaim our rights. For a better Malaysia, together.”

The postcards are apparently a part of the “March 2 Freedom” campaign launched by Anwar’s second daughter Nurul Nuha Anwar earlier yesterday to call for Anwar’s freedom.

The event last night concluded with a speech from Anwar’s only son, Mohd Ihsan Anwar, who, on behalf of his family, thanked for the crowd for their support.

“Sorry, I don’t have much experience speaking (in public), but I have a brief but meaningful message from the family: This gathering is not only for my father’s freedom, but for the freedom of the people and the judicial system, which is flawed,” Mohd Ihsan said.

Also present from Anwar’s family was Anwar’s fifth-born child Nurul Iman Anwar and her husband. Nurul Iman did not address the crowd.