GOVT TO MONITOR SITUATION BEFORE TAKING ACTION AGAINST ANWAR

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry is monitoring the situation and keeping tabs on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim before taking any action, says Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

He said it was important to safeguard the country's peace and
security.

He also urged members of the public not to speculate on the actions the
ministry might take.

"It's better to look at the situation first... and take action when there
is a necessity," he told reporters after attending the Home Ministry's monthly
gathering here.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Pakatan Rakyat
de-facto leader was a threat to the economy and national security.

"Whatever the action that we may take, we will take it when the time comes.
Right now, I don't want to discuss about it before the time comes," he said.

Syed Hamid also said that there was no necessity to talk about Anwar daily
as if Malaysia was being controlled by the People's Justice Party (PKR) advisor.


"There are a lot of other things that we can do," he said.

On the arrest of blogger Syed Azidi Syed Aziz or better known as
"Kickdefella" for sedition Wednesday, Syed Hamid said it was part of the law
enforcement process.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said his officers
had received the police report lodged by Seputeh member of parliament Teresa
Kok, who is currently serving detention under the Internal Security Act.

He said he had not seen the report which was lodged by Kok's lawyer Sankara
Nair against newspaper company, Utusan Melayu Sdn Bhd, its columnist Zaini
Hassan and former state of Selangor Chief Minister Dr Khir Toyo for criminal
defamation over the azan issue.
-- BERNAMA