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Anwar sworn in as MP in Malaysia
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-28 13:06

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) in a brief ceremony at the parliament here on Thursday.

Anwar lifted his right hand and took the oath before parliament speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, followed by the traditional thumping on the table as a sign of approval and support from opposition MPs in the House.

Pandikar Amin announced Anwar's appointment as the Opposition leader.

Speaking to the media after spending about 10 minutes at the parliament, Anwar said he felt vindicated, returning to Parliament after a 10-year hiatus.

"I was touched and vindicated coming back to Parliament after 10 years. After all that I had gone through in that time, now it feels good to be back, it is my right," he said.

Anwar won the parliamentary seat with a 15,671-vote majority on Tuesday, garnering 31,195 votes against BN's candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah, who obtained 15,524 votes.

The seat fell vacant after Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vacated her seat on July 31.

Anwar, the former deputy prime minister, was sacked from the government in 1998 in connection with sodomy and abuse of power charges.