``In principle, there seems to be a kind of deep-seated anger among the people. They seem to have lost their faith with key institutions. It is quite clear,'' Sivara Sarasiah, a human rights lawyer, told AFP.

Sivarasa, a member of the outspoken local human rights group, Voice of the Malaysian People, said the rallies in support of Anwar would not fizzle out even though leaders who began the reform movement are being detained or are abroad.

``The leadership of the protests seems to be spontaneous and for that reason it Is not going away,'' he said.

Thousands of people, mostly ethnic Malays, defied police warnings to gather in a downtown area Saturday in the biggest show of support for Anwar since his arrest on September 20.

An ethnic Malay woman, a housewife in her 40s, who was present at therally waving a magazine with Anwar on the cover, said the gathering was a ``giant step'' for Malaysians.

``It is unlike the Malay culture to be so aggressive. We are not afraid to be part of the gathering,'' she told AFP.

Police said they arrested nine people but otherwise managed to peacefully disperse the five-hour rally of about 10,000 people after a standoff with water cannon and baton-wielding riot police.

Shouting `Reformasi' slogans, the protestors lined a three-kilometre stretch of a major thoroughfare in the late afternoon, carrying hundreds of pictures and placards reading `Free Anwar' and `Long Live Anwar'.

Others openly denounced Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who sacked Anwar on September 2 and made various allegations of sexual misconduct against him.Mahathir is also the President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant ruling party representing the rights of Malays.

Sivarasa said the ``organisers'' were mobilising the people through word of mouthand via electronic media, especially the Internet.

With Anwar's supporters dispersed, many going underground or overseas to regroup in Southeast Asian capitals, the Internet has become the most powerful tool in rallying support for Anwar as most local newspapers and broadcasters have given scant coverage to huge demonstrations held before and after Anwar's detention.

Reports on Saturday's rally by the official Bernama news agency said only 1,000 people were present, while the main English-language daily New Straits Times on Sunday published an item of less than 200 words in the paper's inside pages.

Chandra Muzaffar, President of the International Movement for a Just World, said that there is a strong perception of injustice among the ethnic Malay middle class.

``That perception is very strong. It is a genuine reaction,'' he said.Chandra said the fact that a large crowd turned up for Saturday's protest despite police warning proves that public sentiment is strong.

``The government cannot ignore (thedemonstrations),'' he said.

Chandra said the demonstrators have adopted non-violent approach to protests oveR Anwar's treatment, following principles similar to those of India's Mahatma Gandhi.

The Malaysian Bar Council representing 8,000 lawyers on Saturday expressed ``grave concern'' over the arrests of Anwar and several of his associates under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

An emergency meeting of some 2,500 members of the council also expressed concern over the alleged police beating of Anwar and others including human rights activist Tien Chua, an ethnic Chinese, who heads an Opposition group supporting Anwar.

``"There are those who are acting on behalf of their feelings and there are also others, a silent majority who feel something wrong has happened.''``This is widespread,'' Chandra added.