In a campaign to stir public support for Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Rakyat is embarking on a nationwide roadshow of ceramah (talks).

NONE “This is the first in a series of talks to explain the conspiracy against Anwar,” said PKR deputy president R Sivarasa to a crowd of about 300 cheering supporters last night.

Sivarasa, who is among Anwar’s lawyers in the upcoming sodomy trial , was speaking at a community hall in Section 7, Kota Damansara, Selangor.

He urged those present to attend the hearing, scheduled to start on Jan 25, as a show of support for the PKR de facto leader.

“Programmes like these are good because we can talk and explain directly to the people. The mainstream media is not free.. nor is it balanced in its reporting,”said Sivarasa.

He complained that the voices of Pakatan leaders are being drowned out in the pro-government mainstream media.

NONE “Anwar is the (parliamentary) opposition leader but we have not seen his face for one continuous minute on television,” said the Subang parliamentarian.

He said that, during a recent visit by British MPs to Parliament House, they were told of the media block on Anwar and had exclaimed ‘What kind of democracy is this?’

Sivarasa said the British MPs then related that, in the UK, government ministers and leaders of the opposition, are given fair air time and appearances on television.

He also bemoaned the government’s double standards, not only with regard to the media, but also to enforcement action by the authorities against protestors and alleged sedition .

Sivarasa also appealed to the public for funds to hold the ceramah sessions, so that these can get underway as soon as possible.

He also urged all those in attendance to help spread the information conveyed during the talks to ensure that the truth is disseminated to the rakyat.

‘Justice for Anwar’

PKR supreme council member Badrul Amin Baharon, who was also present, said the purpose of the talks is to win justice for Anwar.

NONE He explained that the qazaf (false accusation) action filed by Anwar against his accuser and former special assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan “is a big issue”, but that the government is trying to bury it.

Badrul (left) urged the public to educate themselves on the issue by reading the analysis and explanations in Suara Keadilan and other sources.

“Not only Muslims and Malays must know this, but also non-Malays and non-Muslims. This is about breaking down racial barriers and making the rakyat knowledgeable,” he claimed.

Other Pakatan leaders who attended the session included Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (PAS) and Teja assemblyperson Charlie Kang (PKR), as well as PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, his deputy Fariz Musa and Selangor head Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin.