In an unusual show of unity, at least 10,000 opponents of the Malyasian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, rallied in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur last night and called for the repeal of a draconian law used to detain the sacked deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Police had banned all gatherings of more than three people following a series of protests after Mr Anwar's arrest on September 20th but stayed away from the rally which brought together leaders of four opposition parties and some 15 civil rights and other organisations.
However, earlier in the day police thwarted an attempt by the opposition groups to launch a new movement, called the Coalition for People's Democracy, in a Kuala Lumpur hotel. The management of the hotel was instructed to lock the doors of the main function hall.
The rally demonstrated that the momentum of the reform movement which has erupted in the Malaysian capital in the past week has not been stopped by the authorities and a concerted challenge is emerging to Dr Mahathir and the ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation. Another demonstration is expected today, which is a national holiday.
Last night's rally was held at a local headquarters of the Islamic Fundamentalist Opposition (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia). As speakers criticised the government and the use of water cannon and tear gas to break up demonstrations earlier in the week, the crowd shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).
Mr Anwar and more than a dozen of his supporters are being held under the Internal Security Act, which permits indefinite internment without trial, and Amnesty International has said it considers those detained under the Act to be prisoners of conscience.
Dr Mahathir has accused his former deputy prime minister of attempting to provoke the same kind of disturbances which occurred in neighbouring Indonesia and toppled President Suharto. "This is the plan hatched by Anwar to avoid a trial," Dr Mahathir was quoted by the New Sunday Times as saying. "That's why police are careful and not using force, unless it cannot be avoided."
Mr Anwar is expected to be charged this week with committing sodomy against two of his colleagues.
In an effort to prevent rallies in Kuala Lumpur's main square authorities announced on Saturday that it would be closed for a week for renovations. Several thousand protesters gathered near Merdeka (Freedom) Square on Saturday but police drove them away with water cannon and placed up to two dozen trucks around the square to keep demonstrators away.
Last Sunday 30,000 demonstrators rallied in Merdeka Square in the biggest-ever challenge to Dr Mahathir's 17-year rule. That evening Mr Anwar was arrested and his wife was also brought in for questioning about a statement that she made claiming that police might inject her husband with the AIDS virus.
Malaysia's Information Minister, Mr Mohamed Rahmat, yesterday advised foreign journalists assigned to cover the Commonwealth Games - which ended on September 21st - to return home as their permits were valid only for the period of the games.
"If they want to stay in the country longer they should submit fresh applications for a permit," he said.
Supporters of Malaysian opposition groups are expected to congregate at mosques in protests across the country at noon today, a national holiday. Those in Kuala Lumpur were likely to try to converge on Merdeka Square, which on Saturday was sealed off by trucks and riot police.