PKR to hold nightly vigils outside Sungai Buloh prison for Anwar

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail calls for Malaysians to join PKR's nightly vigil outside the Sungai Buloh prison. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 10, 2015.

In a stark departure from its mammoth rallies and the Reformasi protest of 1998, PKR today announced that the party would hold prayers and nightly solidarity vigils outside the Sungai Buloh prison in response to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy conviction today.

‎Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail urged all Malaysians to join in the vigil every night beginning tomorrow‎ for "as long as possible", while a special prayer, or “solat hajat”, will be performed on Thursday night at each PKR division across the country.

Calling today's court decision a "political conspiracy" to destroy the growing threat against Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), she said her husband's imprisonment would not weaken the party's struggle.

"Hence, PKR will soon file a motion in Parliament to criticise the conduct of the Federal Court judges in the 'Fitnah 2' case that has left Anwar Ibrahim imprisoned.

"We encourage the public to join solidarity gatherings, or vigils, outside the Sungai Buloh Prison each day, starting tomorrow night

"There will be a solat hajat this Thursday night at each PKR‎ division across the country," Dr Wan Azizah told a press conference today at the party's headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

She said the party would persevere and remain committed, and would not let Anwar's "sacrifice" go to waste.

When asked if the party was‎ moving towards a more pacifist approach by eschewing street rallies, Dr Wan Azizah said PKR always tried to achieve change through lawful means.

The party said they had also yet to decide on who would replace Anwar as the opposition leader, saying that this would be settled after a meeting with their partners in the pact – DAP and PAS.

"We will hold a discussion at the Pakatan Rakyat level and reach a consensus,"‎ said Dr Wan Azizah on the matter.

She was similarly coy when asked if she would be contesting the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, which her husband currently holds.

"The seat is not yet vacant... it is too premature to talk about this," said Dr Wan Azizah.

She added that the plans outlined tonight were only for the short-term, and that PKR would update the public from time to time on what action it would take next.

The Malaysian apex court today found Anwar guilty of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at a condominium unit at Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, on June 26, 2008. Anwar was handed a five-year jail term.

In the summary of his judgment, Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria found that claims of political conspiracy by the defence team remained an unsubstantiated allegation.

He also agreed with the High Court and Court of Appeal that Saiful was a credible witness.

- TMI