Published October 8, 2008

Anwar weighing options, claims enough support to seize power

Says ruling coalition leadership change won't improve things

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that he still has enough support to topple the government and is deliberating over how to carry out his delayed plan to seize power.
Confident: Mr Anwar at the Sessions Court. The judge fended off the govt's attempt to have his case transferred

He dismissed a looming leadership transition in the ruling coalition, saying it would fail to win popular support and would do nothing to reform an administration mired in corruption.

Anwar said last month more than 31 lawmakers from the Barisan Nasional coalition were willing to switch sides and called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to agree to negotiations on a handover of power.

Mr Abdullah has refused and Anwar has since said that pulling off the first change of government in Malaysia's half-century history was a difficult task that could take some time.

'I am pleased by the general enthusiasm expressed by Malaysians who want to see change and rid this country of racism and corruption,' Anwar said yesterday. Despite the delay in his plans, the 31 lawmakers 'have given me their support and they have not reneged on their support', he said.

Anwar said leaders of the three parties in the opposition alliance were meeting yesterday to explore their options.

An official from Anwar's Keadilan party said the strategies included seeking an audience with Malaysia's king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, to claim a mandate to rule.

Parliament resumes next Monday and the defecting lawmakers could physically cross the floor to show a change in allegiance.

And although the premier can under the Constitution block any attempt to mount a vote of no confidence, opposition lawmakers can propose an ordinary motion criticising Mr Abdullah, the official said.

PM Abdullah, who led the coalition to its worst ever performance in elections this year, is expected to announce today whether he will stand aside next March in favour of his deputy Najib Razak. 'I don't believe that Najib will be able to garner support or credibility, or manage the economy and rid the country of corruption,' Anwar said. 'We are talking about a corrupt and rotten system, we are talking about a mismanaged system under Abdullah and I believe it is going to be worse under Najib.'

Anwar is battling a sodomy charge which he says is politically motivated. He has been accused of sodomising a 23-year-old former aide - the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.

The opposition leader had a small victory in court yesterday when a judge fended off a government attempt to move the case to the High Court.

Anwar, who has said he fears the government could fix the trial if it is heard in the higher court, questioned the motivation of Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, whom he is suing in connection with his earlier conviction. 'I am concerned only about the issue of fair trial, Anwar said.

The Sessions Court will continue today to hear arguments from both sides over the case transfer. -- AFP