Published September 17, 2008

Opposition can form new govt: Anwar

More than required Front MPs have given commitments, he tells media

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR
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IN a move that was slightly anti-climactic, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday that the opposition coalition could form the next government but stopped short of revealing the names or precise numbers of defectors.

Public support: Anwar addressing supporters waving national flags during a gathering in a stadium in Petaling Jaya, outside Kuala Lumpur, on Monday

'We have received firm commitments from members of Parliament in excess of the numbers required to form a new government,' he told a packed press conference.

Anwar said he had written to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi requesting a meeting with him to discuss the terms of the takeover, calling such an approach 'conciliatory'.

'We will reveal the names (of the defecting lawmakers) to the Prime Minister if he wants,' Anwar said. Pressed on the exact numbers, Anwar hedged: 'More than 31.'

The Opposition needs 30 seats to retain a simple majority.

Separately, the treasurer of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), Hatta Ramli, told newsmen that Anwar's coalition had received commitments from 35 National Front lawmakers.

Asked to name names, Anwar said that was 'impossible as the government would immediately begin harassing them', adding 'we do not want another Teresa Kok', referring to the opposition lawmaker who was detained on Friday under the Internal Security Act for allegedly trampling on religious sensitivities.

Even so, his statements are unlikely to impress Mr Abdullah who told senior civil servants yesterday that the Opposition leader was 'just bluffing'.

One political analyst said that even if presented with a list of would-be defectors, 'no Prime Minister in the world would resign on such grounds'.

Indeed, Anwar is expected to be lambasted by the mainstream media today for his apparent lack of credibility.

As if anticipating the response, Anwar told reporters that no one had believed him when he talked about taking over five states and denying the Front its two-thirds parliamentary majority in March 8 general elections.

Nor had they believed him when he said he would increase his majority in the Permatang Pauh by-election.

'But all of that actually happened,' he said to loud cheers from his supporters.

It is not clear if Malaysia's King can intervene even if he was convinced of Anwar's support.

The only way for Anwar to get to the top would be to win a parliamentary vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister, the analyst said. Then all it would take for Anwar to be appointed prime minister was an audience with the King who had to be satisfied that Anwar really had the support from a majority of parliamentarians.

Parliament next sits on Oct 13.