Malaysia's Anwar vows to topple government

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday vowed to topple the prime minister despite what he called attempts to "demonise and intimidate" him.

Anwar said allegations of sodomy levelled by a 23-year-old male aide showed he posed a threat to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition, which has ruled Malaysia for more than 50 years.

"We are on track to take over the government. We want to pursue this agenda for reform," a smiling Anwar told reporters.

"Clearly, I am a political threat."

Anwar spent a night in police cells last week after he was arrested on sodomy allegations he says the government fabricated to prevent him from seizing power.

"What is the issue? I have not seen the (police) report (made by Saiful)," he said.

Anwar's Keadilan party aims to establish a new coalition government by the end of the year, its information chief told AFP.

"We are confident a change of government will happen by year-end," said Tian Chua.

A return to parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.
The sex conviction was later overturned, but the corruption count barred him from public office until April.

Fired up by Anwar's charismatic presence, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance made unprecedented gains in March general elections, leaving it just 30 seats short of ousting the ruling coalition.

But the accusation by aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan that Anwar sexually assaulted him threatens to derail the former deputy premier's political comeback.

On Monday, Saiful's father Azlan Mohammad Lazim said his son was "ready to swear at any time ... in a mosque ... that he was sodomised as reported to the police, once the investigations are over."

Anwar has refused to provide a DNA sample to police saying he feared the evidence would be manipulated, but on Monday Saiful's lawyer urged him to cooperate.

"Saiful is urging Anwar to give his DNA sample and to cooperate with the police to speed up the investigation," Zamri Idrus told reporters.

"I was appointed in July as Saiful's counsel and I saw him just a few days ago. We are asking Anwar to give greater cooperation to the police and we push for a quick resolution to the investigation," he said.

Anwar Monday condemned police over his arrest last Thursday, when he spent a night in a cell and underwent a strip search.

"Why ambush and arrest me? Why put me in a cell? Why treat me like a common criminal? There is a pattern to demonise and intimidate me," he said.

The comments came as Malaysia's police chief filed a defamation lawsuit accusing Anwar of fabricating evidence.

Anwar has accused Musa Hassan and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail of manipulating evidence in an investigation into an alleged beating he received while in police custody ten years ago.

Anwar welcomed the lawsuit, saying he was prepared to face Musa in court.
"I will deal with this in court. I am happy to take him to court," Anwar told reporters after giving a statement to prosecutors.

Agence France-Presse - 7/21/2008 11:14 AM GMT

Malaysia PM's handover plan fails to silence critics

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to step down in favour of his deputy in mid-2010 has not silenced calls for a prompt change of leadership after a drubbing in March elections.

Abdullah said Thursday he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power, but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.

The premier has faced repeated calls to resign from within his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), after unprecedented losses in the elections and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage.

Although his announcement was aimed at silencing these dissident factions, and averting a challenge in UMNO leadership polls in December, rumblings from within have already begun.
Party vice president Muhyiddin Yassin, a potential leadership contender who has much to lose under the deal, said some in the party preferred a quicker handover and wanted to decide their new leader for themselves.

"Some have expressed concern that if the duration is that long the situation will not become more convincing. This needs to be taken into account," Muhyiddin told state news agency Bernama.

"The election is still far. Why the haste to make the decision now," he said. Muhyiddin was tipped as a number-two to Najib after Abdullah's departure, but will now have to wait two years for a chance at the role.

UMNO veteran Razaleigh Hamzah, a prince from northern Kelantan state who wants to challenge Abdullah for the top job, also questioned the premier's right to hand over the party's leadership to Najib.

"It's improper for Abdullah to hand over any post as it is an elected post," he told Bernama. Traditionally the president of UMNO, which leads a national coalition representing Malaysia's various races, is also prime minister.

"Many people are unaware that the PM must get permission from various institutions especially the King before doing this," he said.

Abdullah's predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, a staunch Najib ally who had a very public falling out with Abdullah, predicted that Najib will never become prime minister.

"Although Najib was promised that a transition would take place in 2010, all kinds of accusations will be hurled at him so that Najib would appear unfit to even be deputy prime minister," Mahathir said in his blog.

"One of Abdullah's more trusted lieutenants will take over and the new person won't take over as PM in 2010 due to a lack of experience so Abdullah will continue to rule until the next elections," he added.

Najib and opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim are now gripped in a bitter political brawl, with both facing serious misconduct accusations that could prevent them from vying for the country's top post.

Najib has been forced to deny accusations that he had an affair with a Mongolian woman murdered in 2006, while Anwar faces new allegations of sodomy -- the same charge he was jailed over a decade ago -- which he says are fabricated by the government.

Analysts are divided over the need for a quick handover, which could end political uncertainty that has hampered Malaysia's financial markets.

"A faster departure means a new leader who can start making changes to the country," said analyst Azmi Sharom.

Some, however, think the prime minister needs time to deliver on the promises that he was punished in the general elections for not delivering.

"He is putting a time frame with enough time so that he will have a visible legacy and be remembered with kindness," said pollster Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Centre.

"Abdullah needs to ensure that the changes cannot be rolled back by any successor," he told AFP.

Agence France-Presse - 7/11/2008 7:46 AM GMT

Malaysia's PM to stand down in mid-2010

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday he would stand down in mid-2010, after facing repeated calls to quit since disastrous March elections.

Abdullah said he had struck an agreement with his deputy Najib Razak to hand over power but first wanted the opportunity to implement reforms and projects promised since he came to office five years ago.

"I have decided to hand over my position to Najib to take over as party president in June, in the middle of 2010," Abdullah told a press conference.

The president of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition, is traditionally prime minister.

"I have achieved an agreement with Najib that I will not lead the BN and UMNO in the next election... and also this means that a transition of power must take place," he said.

Abdullah had resisted calls to quit after general elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains, and a fuel price hike that triggered public outrage and a series of protests.

"My wish is to strengthen the party and carry out the implementation of programmes and promises made at election time," he said as he stood alongside Najib and other senior UMNO leaders.

Najib pledged his support for Abdullah and urged the party to accept his decision and re-elect the premier in leadership elections in December where disgruntled UMNO elements had been expected to vent their feelings.

"Today starts the process of the transition of power in an orderly manner, following UMNO tradition, where he has given support for me to be his replacement," he said.

"I will continue to accept Abdullah as head of the party," he said.
"I urge members to support the candidacy of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as president of the party in the upcoming elections and urge party members to accept this."

Asked about his feelings, Abdullah jokingly pretend to cry and said: "I feel a little sadness, nothing more than that. I feel a sense of achievement, I have taken steps that are well received.
After a meeting of UMNO division and branch leaders -- whose support Abdullah needs to stay in power -- the embattled premier said he was confident the party would accept the long-range departure plans.

"The meeting gave me a standing ovation after this so I think it was well received," he said.
Political uncertainty since the elections, which has hurt Malaysia's financial markets, was heightened after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he is poised to seize power with the help of government defectors.

Anwar and Najib are now gripped in an astonishing political brawl, with both facing serious misconduct accusations that could decide who will be the next prime minister.

Anwar faces new allegations of sodomy -- the same charge he was jailed over a decade ago -- which he says are fabricated by the government, and Najib has been forced to deny accusations that he had an affair with a Mongolian woman murdered in 2006.

Abdullah dismissed suggestions that the ongoing trial in that case -- a close friend of Najib has been charged with abetting the murder -- had played a role in the timing of his departure.
"I think that is separate. This is a decision at a party level," he said.

The opposition alliance on Thursday filed a motion in parliament seeking to hold a debate on the "loss of confidence" in the coalition government.

"The public has lost confidence in the integrity of the government," said Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who leads his Keadilan party.

"The people are now facing a huge crisis, having to bear the burden of expensive fuel, the higher cost of food and basic needs. The parliament should debate this motion," she said.

Agence France-Presse - 7/10/2008 1:34 PM GMT

Amnesty fears rights violations in Malaysian mass deportation

International rights watchdog Amnesty said Friday that Malaysia's plans to deport tens of thousands of illegal migrants from Borneo island could lead to serious human rights violations.

The government this week announced a campaign to drive out the migrants, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, who have settled in Sabah state on Malaysia's half of Borneo.

"We are of the opinion that the federal government's unilateral action may result in serious human rights violations," Amnesty said, warning that many of those targeted were asylum seekers and refugees from the southern Philippines.

Amnesty's branch in Malaysia called on the government to establish a Royal Commission of inquiry to study the issue of illegal migration to Sabah.

"We fear that the simplistic and arbitrary action of mass crackdown by the federal government in addressing such a serious and complex issue will only elevate the ongoing human rights and humanitarian concerns in Sabah and the region to a serious crisis level," it said.

Politicians in Sabah have pushed the national government to expel the illegal migrants, saying they were a burden on the economy and pose a security threat by engaging in crime and the drugs trade.

Authorities say there are 130,000 illegal migrants in the impoverished state, but local politicians put the figure as high as 500,000. Many of them work in the timber and plantations industries.

Amnesty said some of the settlers had lived in Sabah for more than 10 years, and that they risked "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment during deportation.

"In 2002, reports indicated that the process of mass deportations of undocumented migrants led to the deaths of children, due to dehydration and disease in detention centres in the state of Sabah," it said.

Indonesian officials have also said they were concerned about the deportation plans, the latest in a series of periodic crackdowns by Malaysia that have caused conflict between the two countries in the past.

Malaysia splits Borneo island with Indonesia.

Agence France-Presse - 6/27/2008 10:10 AM GMT

Malaysia's Anwar seeks refuge at embassy after sex allegationss

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took refuge at the Turkish embassy Sunday after denying allegations he sodomised a male aide, the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

The former deputy prime minister denounced as a "complete fabrication" a police report allegedly lodged by the 23-year-old aide, and said it was an attempt to sideline his spectacular return to the political stage in March elections.

He said threats had been made against him and that since Sunday he has taken refuge at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur on the invitation of the ambassador.

"The police report lodged against me earlier today is a complete fabrication. I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress," he said.

"I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as a means to subvert the people's will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia," he said in a statement.

The new sex charges triggered fears Anwar faced imminent arrest, but police said they would first carry out an investigation.

Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges which he said were politically motivated. He spent six years in jail but was released in 2004 when the sex charge was overturned.

"These actions are being repeated today to undermine the forces of reform and renewal which were unleashed in the March 2008 elections," Anwar said, dismissing the affair as a "charade".

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose government was shaken by the elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains including a third of parliamentary seats, denied any involvement in the affair.

"We had no plans to do anything to him just because he says he's made a political comeback," Abdullah told a press conference.

Criminal Investigation Department chief Bakri Zinin said the aide had personally written the report detailing an incident at a condominium in an upmarket Kuala Lumpur suburb.
"It's mere allegation at this point. We will look into it and establish the allegations first to see whether it is true or not," he told reporters.

Anwar said the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was striking back after he gave evidence against the government and police over the fabrication of evidence in the original case against him.
"I urge the Malaysian people to stand against the repressive forces that will be unleashed by the government in the coming days and weeks," he said.

Since the March polls, Anwar has said he is poised to form a new government with the help of defectors from the ruling coalition, undermining Abdullah who has faced repeated demands to step down over the election debacle.

Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail accused the government of orchestrating the allegations which she condemned as "a political murder against my husband".

She produced a photograph of the aide with a staff member of a senior politician and said it proved a link with the government, which was trying to divert attention away from problems such as fuel price hikes.

About 100 supporters gathered at a hotel where Anwar's Keadilan party leaders were meeting, shouting "Reformasi" or "Reform," the opposition movement's battlecry.

"We will take to the streets if they arrest him," said social activist Marvin Madahvan.
James Chin, a political analyst from Malaysia's Monash campus, said more mud-slinging would emerge as the date approaches by which Anwar said he would seize power.

"As we head towards September 16, Anwar's own deadline on when he will topple the government, more and more political things will be coming out of the closet from both sides," he told AFP.

"In all probability, these sorts of events are designed to distract the population from real issues such as the slowdown in the economy and the rising fuel prices."

Agence France-Presse - 6/29/2008 11:40 AM GMT

Malaysian govt pushes through vote on fuel price hike

Malaysia's ruling coalition pushed through a vote supporting its fuel price hike in parliament Monday, but the opposition said the debate highlighted intense public opposition to the move.

The Barisan Nasional won the vote 129 to 78, and avoided a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi which a minor party in the 14-party coalition had campaigned for.

Abdullah has been fighting for his political survival since a drubbing in March elections, and this month's 41 percent increase in petrol prices has put him under further pressure.

"They wanted to turn this into a vote of no-confidence in the PM but the Barisan Nasional was united," said cabinet minister Nazri Aziz.

"There is no question about BN MPs wanting to jump over to the other side," he told reporters, after the opposition said it would soon form a new government with the support of defecting lawmakers.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad told parliament that Malaysia could not continue to pay out for expensive fuel subsidies.

"One of the reasons the government was forced to increase the fuel price was because the subsidy, which was 8.8 billion ringgit (2.5 billion dollars) in 2007, was expected to reach 27 billion this year," he said.

"We cannot afford this," Shahrir said, adding that the government had taken measures to protect citizens from inflation.

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance said it was reluctant to mount a formal no-confidence vote, but that the parliamentary debate emphasised unhappiness with the government's performance.

"The Pakatan Rakyat are trying to highlight the problems with government policies, and our opposition to today's motion shows the people's lack of confidence in Abdullah," said Azmin Ali, vice-president of Keadilan, which heads the alliance.

"This is something which we can use to send a message to the government. The present leadership... are incompetent to manage the economy and the future of Abdullah to lead this country is untenable," he told AFP.

Two lawmakers from the Sabah Progressive Party, a coalition member which dropped a bombshell last week when it called for the no-confidence vote, were absent from parliament after saying they had received threats.

"Events in the last 24 hours have taken a disturbing turn. Among others, we have received reports of intimidating and bullying tactics," the president of the Chinese-based party Yong Teck Lee said in a statement.

He said there had been text messages and phone calls "implying threats" to the two MPs and their aides, and that at a gathering of the ruling party UMNO "aggressive words touching on racial incitement were used."

Its parliamentarians had been recalled to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah state on Borneo island to discuss their safety and that of their families and offices, he said.

Agence France-Presse - 6/23/2008 12:01 PM GMT

Malaysia's Anwar says fuel hike aids bid to seize power

Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim said Sunday his bid to seize power with the help of defecting government lawmakers had been boosted by an unpopular fuel price hike.

Anwar said that at least 30 parliamentarians are willing to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, and that if the opposition gained power, the fuel price would immediately be cut.

"According to our timetable it is still on. Now it is more attractive after the price hike," Anwar said at a press conference after a meeting with members of his Keadilan party's supreme council.
"In the light of the political and economical uncertainties led by the government, we have seen clearly more interest and support for Pakatan Rakyat and this applies even to members of parliament," he said.

"There is absolutely no reason... for them to remain and support the leadership that has failed the nation."

Anwar said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision last week to hike the price of fuel by 41 percent and restructure the country's oil subsidy system was an "ill-conceived" plan.

He said that as Malaysia was a net oil exporter, the current high price of crude oil on world markets would earn the country a fortune in additional revenue.

"I stand by my decision that when Pakatan Rakyat forms the new government fuel prices definitely will be cut. I will immediately resign, if I do not keep my word and reduce the price of fuel," said Anwar, a former finance minister.

Anwar said he could not elaborate on the timetable for the government lawmakers to cross over, for fear of harassment and intimidation.

"We have to do it very cautiously, mindful of the fact that the system is quite repressive in this country," he said.

Abdullah's Barisan Nasional coalition was punished by voters in March general elections for failing to rein in the cost of food and fuel, losing a third of parliamentary seats and five states to the opposition.

The opposition only needs 30 lawmakers to gain a simple majority in parliament, and topple the government.

Abdullah's leadership is also in doubt, with persistent calls for him to quit to take responsibility for the election debacle.

"Politically the message was clear on March 8. Economically it is now a disaster. That is why they are calling on them to resign," Anwar said.

Agence France-Presse - 6/8/2008 9:37 AM GMT