ID :
19884
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 10:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19884
The shortlink copeid
Anwar claims over 30 MPs ready to defect to topple govt
Jaishree Balasubramanian
Kuala Lumpur, Sept 16 (PTI) Malaysia's top opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Tuesday claimed that at least 31 members of parliament had agreed to defect to the opposition alliance allowing him to topple the government of Abdullah Badawi.
"We have received firm commitments from MPs in excess of
the number required to form a new government," Anwar told
reporters. "We have enough numbers in excess of 31... It is
increasing by the hour. I am not joking."
Anwar's statement comes hours after Premier Badawi and
his deputy Najib Razak said the Barisan government was in
power and the talks of Anwar toppling it was just a "mirage".
"This is Anwar's mirage. It is nothing. It is merely a
dream," Badawi had said.
Sixty-one year old Anwar had earlier set a September 16
deadline to form a government with the support of lawmakers
defecting from the ruling coalition.
Anwar, a member of parliament from Permatang Pauh has
refused to reveal the names of the 31 MPs. He said it was up
to Abdullah to agree to a meeting to discuss handover of
power.
Reacting to Anwar's statements that he wanted to meet the
premier to discuss handover of power, Abdullah told reporters
"this is a waste of our time. It is a game of political lies
by Anwar Ibrahim and the people are choosing to believe him."
Anwar told a crowd of 10,000 supporters late last night
that he wanted Abdullah to hand over power voluntarily so that
the transition could be done "smoothly and peacefully."
The charismatic opposition leader said he had submitted a
letter to Abdullah, in which the opposition alliance had made
four demands to ensure a smooth transition, including that the
ruling Barisan should not hinder or prevent the MPs from
acting in accordance with their conscience.
The opposition has also demanded that the government
should not invoke the controversial Internal Security Act to
detain the MPs or any other current opposition lawmakers.
Besides, the Barisan government should not invoke
emergency laws or police powers or suspend the Constitution or
dissolve Parliament and should not impose roadblocks or impede
MPs from going to Parliament, it demanded.
If the opposition alliance comes to power, it would be
the first time since Malaysia attained independence in 1957
that Barisan Nasional party will not be at the helm.
Anwar's People's Alliance won 82 seats in the March 8
general election this year in the 222-member Parliament.
Early Tuesday morning, law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who had
put in his papers Monday, said he had decided to quit in
protest against the use of Internal Security Act to arrest a
journalist, an anti-government blogger and an opposition MP.
"I am not tired, I am disappointed. I am sorry," Zaid
told reporters Tuesday morning.
Badawi said Tuesday morning he was not "pressured" by
Anwar's threats and added that law minister Zaid's resignation
would not weaken his government.
Deputy premier Najib also said Tuesday that the
government would remain in power. "We are always confident. We
have been confident that the same government will be in
office," he said. PTI JB
ASJ
NNNN
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Kuala Lumpur, Sept 16 (PTI) Malaysia's top opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Tuesday claimed that at least 31 members of parliament had agreed to defect to the opposition alliance allowing him to topple the government of Abdullah Badawi.
"We have received firm commitments from MPs in excess of
the number required to form a new government," Anwar told
reporters. "We have enough numbers in excess of 31... It is
increasing by the hour. I am not joking."
Anwar's statement comes hours after Premier Badawi and
his deputy Najib Razak said the Barisan government was in
power and the talks of Anwar toppling it was just a "mirage".
"This is Anwar's mirage. It is nothing. It is merely a
dream," Badawi had said.
Sixty-one year old Anwar had earlier set a September 16
deadline to form a government with the support of lawmakers
defecting from the ruling coalition.
Anwar, a member of parliament from Permatang Pauh has
refused to reveal the names of the 31 MPs. He said it was up
to Abdullah to agree to a meeting to discuss handover of
power.
Reacting to Anwar's statements that he wanted to meet the
premier to discuss handover of power, Abdullah told reporters
"this is a waste of our time. It is a game of political lies
by Anwar Ibrahim and the people are choosing to believe him."
Anwar told a crowd of 10,000 supporters late last night
that he wanted Abdullah to hand over power voluntarily so that
the transition could be done "smoothly and peacefully."
The charismatic opposition leader said he had submitted a
letter to Abdullah, in which the opposition alliance had made
four demands to ensure a smooth transition, including that the
ruling Barisan should not hinder or prevent the MPs from
acting in accordance with their conscience.
The opposition has also demanded that the government
should not invoke the controversial Internal Security Act to
detain the MPs or any other current opposition lawmakers.
Besides, the Barisan government should not invoke
emergency laws or police powers or suspend the Constitution or
dissolve Parliament and should not impose roadblocks or impede
MPs from going to Parliament, it demanded.
If the opposition alliance comes to power, it would be
the first time since Malaysia attained independence in 1957
that Barisan Nasional party will not be at the helm.
Anwar's People's Alliance won 82 seats in the March 8
general election this year in the 222-member Parliament.
Early Tuesday morning, law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who had
put in his papers Monday, said he had decided to quit in
protest against the use of Internal Security Act to arrest a
journalist, an anti-government blogger and an opposition MP.
"I am not tired, I am disappointed. I am sorry," Zaid
told reporters Tuesday morning.
Badawi said Tuesday morning he was not "pressured" by
Anwar's threats and added that law minister Zaid's resignation
would not weaken his government.
Deputy premier Najib also said Tuesday that the
government would remain in power. "We are always confident. We
have been confident that the same government will be in
office," he said. PTI JB
ASJ
NNNN
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.
