KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim
said on Monday he has enough support to topple the government and
wants to meet with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss
a handover.
Anwar held a mass rally on the eve of a deadline he has set to
seize power with the help of defecting government lawmakers.
He arrived to rapturous applause from up to 7,000 supporters
gathered at a Kuala Lumpur stadium which echoed to chants of
"Reformasi" - the opposition battle cry of "Reform".
Officials from his Keadilan party said Anwar would make a speech
that could shed light on his plans to topple the ruling Barisan
Nasional coalition, which has dominated Malaysian politics for half
a century.
But there were mixed messages over whether he will on Tuesday
declare he has the support of the 30 lawmakers he needs to form a
new administration, and formally challenge Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi.
Tian Chua, information chief of his Keadilan party, said the
three-member opposition alliance had signed up enough defectors to
form a simple majority in parliament and that Anwar wanted to meet
with Abdullah on Tuesday to inform him.
"We want Abdullah to assure us there will be no repressive force
used, like involving the police or inviting the military to take
control," he told AFP.
Tian Chua said the opposition's push had been helped by a
government crackdown on Saturday that saw an opposition politician,
a prominent blogger and a journalist detained under draconian
internal security laws.
"Abdullah's final crackdown made people lose hope that he is ever
going to be a liberal reformer, which he promised," he said.
However, Keadilan vice-president Syed Husin Ali was more cautious,
declining to specify how many defectors were on board and only
saying that "tomorrow the beginnings of the process will
happen."
"The whole process might take a month but it could be sooner," he
told AFP. "You never know, he might announce something this
evening. And tomorrow there will definitely be an announcement of
something."
Spirits were high at the stadium, which was emblazoned with
Malaysian flags and posters demanding the release of the opposition
politician and the blogger - who remain in custody after the
journalist was freed.
"I am sure Anwar will form the next government, as we the people
have spoken as we want to see a new Malaysia led by Anwar," said
54-year-old taxi driver Yaacob Ismail.
The opposition made surprise gains in March general elections,
seizing control of five states and a third of parliamentary seats
in the biggest challenge ever faced by the coalition.
"My entire family is here, we want to tell Abdullah to leave now. I
am confident Anwar will form a new government soon. We are very
excited. I can't wait," said Juliette Ramasamy, a 24-year-old
student. -