Malaysia's Anwar claims he can still seize power

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-08 15:01

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim voiced confidence Friday of winning a seat in Parliament and toppling the government by next month despite battling a sodomy charge.

Malaysia's opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim waves as he leaves the courthouse in Kuala Lumpur August 7, 2008. Anwar was charged with sodomy at a court hearing on Thursday in a move that could damage his chances of staging a political comeback in the majority Muslim country. [Agencies]

Anwar said his plans have not been derailed even though he was charged in court Thursday for allegedly sodomizing a 23-year-old male former aide. Anwar remained free on bail pending a trial and intends to contest an August 26 by-election to make a comeback into Parliament.

"The new dawn for Malaysia is well within reach," Anwar told reporters. "We will mount a unified campaign to win in (the by-election) with a solid majority."

Anwar, who has long nurtured hopes of becoming prime minister, reiterated his claim that he has convinced enough government lawmakers to defect by September 16 to enable his three-party opposition alliance to seize power.

Anwar accused Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling coalition of fabricating the sodomy charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, to block his political ascent. Government leaders have repeatedly denied any conspiracy.

"We will have adequate numbers" to oust the government, Anwar said. "The range is comfortable with the possibility of forming a (new) government. ... That is why they are hellbent to attack me."

Abdullah's National Front coalition has been in power since 1957, but it has only a 30-seat majority in Parliament after suffering severe losses in March general elections.

Government prosecutors accused Anwar, 60, of sodomizing his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, on June 26 in a condominium in Kuala Lumpur.

It was the second time in a decade that Anwar is facing accusations of sodomy, which is illegal even between consenting adults in this Muslim-majority nation. A September 10 court hearing is expected to determine trial dates.

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