Around 500 PKR supporters gathered in front of the Penang Town Hall this morning to show solidarity with party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is attending a case in the High Court today.

An initial crowd of 300 started marching to High Court in Penang at 9am, chanting, "Free Anwar," "Reformasi," and other reformasi slogans, and their numbers grew steadily.

Among the leaders present were Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.

High Court 4 was brimming with Anwar's supporters and those who failed to get a seat in the courtroom were told to leave.

Judge Rosilah Yop presided over the case and the session is yet to begin.

Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was also in the court, along with several party leaders, to show support.

They included the late Karpal Singh's wife Gurmit Kaur. Their daughter Sangeet Kaur is leading Anwar's legal team.

Anwar filed a RM70 million defamation suit against the New Straits Times (NST) and three individuals over the publication of articles that implied he was involved in money laundering.

He claimed he was slandered and was accused of being involved in judiciary fixing and hiding his assets and bank accounts.

He said the articles accused him of "unprofessional and dishonest conduct".

Filed in August 2013, the articles referred were published in the NST on Aug 6, 2013, and February 3, 2014.

Printed apology, damages sought

Anwar arrived at the court building at 9.25am, greeted by chants from his supporters.

Police set up a blockade outside the court complex to prevent the supporters from entering, as the crowd continued to chant "Hidup rakyat," for the PKR supremo.

Lawyer Ranjit Singh Mahinder Singh, reporters Looi Sue-Chern and Adrian Lai and NST Press Bhd are being sued for RM10 million, RM5 million, RM5 million and RM50 million respectively.

Anwar said the defendants had accused him of paying the late Karpal Singh a total of RM50 million, of being involved in money laundering, of bribing judges and prosecutors and of using the Bar Council as a tool for his politics.

Ranjit is represented by lawyer Baljit Singh, while the other three from NST are represented by Umi Farhana Mohd Nasir of Raja Reza & Co.

Anwar is seeking a court order for all four defendants to publish an apology and withdraw their accusations.

Other than the RM70 million in general damages, he is seeking exemplary damages, aggravated damages, costs and other reliefs as the court deems fit.