Malaysian Police Disperse Rally for Reforms

Riot police in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur used water cannons to disperse thousands of anti-government demonstrators gathered at a mosque Friday for another rally demanding political reforms.

Police had warned protesters that they could face arrest under a law that bans rallies and allows for indefinite detention without trial.

Protesters pumped their fists and shouted “Reformasi,” or reform, and passing cars honked four times to punctuate the opposition rally cry.

Police moved in to prevent the demonstrators from marching to the Parliament building, where Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was unveiling the 1999 budget.

Mahathir’s budget plan, aimed at pulling the nation out of its first recession in more than a decade, calls for a series of tax cuts for favored industries. The proposal reflects Mahathir’s philosophy of spending more to spur recovery.

The demonstrators were supporters of former Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim, who was fired Sept. 2 and later arrested.

Since his arrest, tens of thousands of Malaysians have gathered regularly in the capital and other cities to demand justice for Anwar.

He faces trial Nov. 2 on charges of corruption and homosexual acts. He insists that the charges were trumped up by political opponents and says he was beaten unconscious by police after his arrest.

The scandal has soured Malaysia’s ties with other nations, including the U.S. President Clinton will not meet with Mahathir during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Kuala Lumpur next month because of concern over Anwar’s treatment, administration sources said Thursday.