The following statement is issued by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned that police are preventing freedom of speech and freedom of association in preventing public talks by the Pakatan opposition alliance leader, Anwar Ibrahim. He was talking about his ongoing sodomy trial and criticising the Federal government.

Local media reported that on 24 January, Anwar was giving a speech to an estimated 500 people at the parking lot of a public housing area in the capital city, when several policemen went up the stage and interrupted him. A video of the incident, posted on YouTube, showed police taking Anwar away and switching off the microphone. Police, however, did not arrest Anwar.

The incident exposes the police's clear disregard of their responsibility under the Malaysian Constitution to uphold the right to freedom of speech. The police chief who stopped Anwar reportedly tried to justify his actions on the grounds that the speech was "political".

CIJ calls on the police to uphold laws that guarantee freedom of speech and assembly.