Black 14 Dinner Turns Into Illegal Gathering, Say Police

(Bernama) KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 -- A so-called Black 14 dinner organised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) at the Sultan Suleiman Club in Kampung Baru Monday night turned into an illegal gathering of what police estimated to be 7,000 people.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the people began to gather at 8.30pm and dispersed at 10.30pm on the orders of Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman.

"The application made to the police on April 8 stated that a dinner was to be held and that only three top leaders of the party would give speeches but there was no dinner for the people, only for the party leaders," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters here Monday night.

He said the three top party leaders who were to have spoken were PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Sultan Suleiman Club deputy chairman Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad and not PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The gathering was held to celebrate the end of the five-year ban on Anwar holding public office following his conviction on corruption charges. Anwar was convicted of corruption after he was sacked as the deputy prime minister and finance minister in September 1998 and sentenced to six years in jail.

Asked why a permit was required for a gathering at a private club, Muhammad Sabtu said it was not a function held indoors.

"The ceramah (talk) contributed to traffic congestion and the presence of the large number of party supporters posed a hazard for the public and night market traders in the vicinity of the club.

"It is an offence to hold a gathering or meeting without a permit and Section 27 (3) of the Police Act allows the police to stop any gathering or meeting held without a licence," he said.

Kuala Lumpur Police, comprising 1,350 personnel including Federal Reserve Union (FRU) and General Operations Force personnel, began to control traffic flow from about 4pm, he said.

Muhammad Sabtu said no arrests were made but the police were looking at the legal aspects to determine whether to make arrests later.

"The police did not arrest anyone Monday night but arrests may be made depending on the investigation, and even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not be exempted if it is found that he had violated the law," he said.