Despite Anwar Ibrahim's plea to his supporters not to go to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport when he returns, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Free Anwar Movement (FAM) are asking them to do otherwise.

PKR vice president and FAM spokesperson Tian Chua said their call was not meant to defy Anwar but supporters intended to give the former deputy premier a grand welcome when he returns from Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Anwar - through his homecoming committee chairperson Kamarul Bahrin Abbas - asked his supporters not to throng the airport.

He instead invited them to join him in breaking fast at his residence in Bukit Damansara.

Peaceful gatherings

Party deputy president Syed Husin Ali said the PKR political bureau yesterday decided to go ahead with its earlier plan to encourage its members to go to the airport.

"After the earlier decision, the party's secretary-general sent directives to all its divisions," he added when contacted.

He said supporters of the party and Anwar can choose to be at the airport or otherwise, although the party would welcome their presence at KLIA.

On Anwar's advice, Syed Husin said he believed that the former deputy premier did not want to inconvenience his supporters who would have to come to the airport when he arrives on Sunday morning, especially since it is the fasting month.

The homecoming committee will cooperate with the KLIA security and the police to ensure peaceful gatherings at both the airport and house.

Show of support

Tian Chua said it was important for Anwar's supporters to greet him at the airport to show their support for the politician's struggle.

"For more than six years our leader has been jailed and during that time he was in pain for three years. Now he returns free and healthy, ready to lead and continue the reformation agenda. Therefore FAM urges everyone to join us in this grand event," he said.

He is also confident that the decision would not upset Anwar.

"We appreciate his concern but he is our leader and we want to greet him. I don't think he will be unhappy to see us at the airport," he said.

Follow Anwar's advice

However, Kamarul felt otherwise. He said the supporters should heed Anwar's call and go to his house instead of the airport.

"We still feel the supporters should heed his advice but then we are not stopping anyone from going to the airport," he added.

Meanwhile, a PKR source claimed that Anwar had given the advice based on a misleading briefing by the homecoming committee.

"Anwar was told that the committee could not mobilise the supporters to the airport as they failed to obtain a permit to hold a gathering."

Based on this, Anwar said if the supporters cannot make it to the airport, then they should just gather at his home," said the source.

He also claimed that the committee members were "obsessed" with conducting a lawful assembly and failed to provide a sound alternative plan.

"They have always looked down on the reformasi gathering, that was why they immediately scrapped the grand homecoming plan when the permit could not be obtained.

"This is not the view of the majority of party leaders, members and Anwar's supporters. We must show that he is still a leader to be reckoned with," he added.

Avoid rebellious image

On the other hand, a PKR leader, who declined to be named, said the committee was right in wanting to conduct things lawfully.

"Those who are adamant for the crowd to gather have their own agenda. They want to give the message that the spirit of 1998 is still alive.

"But we believe that a demonstration would ruin Anwar's image. It's not good for him to be known as a rebellious leader," said the leader.