He said 20 billboards and 11 banners in the Bayan Lepas area, announcing Anwar’s court date in Penang, had disappeared. It is not known who tore them down.
“We have now put up new ones which read “Solidariti Bersama Anwar Ibrahim” (“Solidarity with Anwar Ibrahim”), which meet police requirements. But even these are being vandalised.
“The people of Penang are fed up by the acts of these irresponsible and cowardly folks.
“Their (billboards and banners) removal shows Anwar can still easily rattle the ruling establishment and his enemies. The mere presence of his picture seems enough,” Azrizal told reporters in Bayan Baru here.
Azrizal and fellow Bayan Baru PKR members showed reporters what was left of a “Soldariti Bersama Anwar” billboard in Jalan Tun Dr Awang.
A gathering and ceramah will be held to mark Anwar’s appearance at a court hearing in Penang from Jan 8-12.
Banners promoting the gathering and ceramah in Bukit Mertajam were reported to have been removed by police. They carried the words “Himpunan Solidariti” (“Solidarity gathering”) and “#BebasAnwar #SelamatkanMalaysia” (“Free Anwar. Save Malaysia”).
Police said the banners were removed after members of the public complained about it. The case is also being investigated under the Sedition Act.
The Bukit Mertajam Umno division had lodged a police report asking the authorities to pull the billboards down.