ABDULLAH REJECTS CALLS FOR PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE SPECIAL SESSION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi Thursday rejected Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's calls that a special Lower House of Parliament session be convened.

"I don't see any need for it because parliament will resume sitting soon,
after the Ramadan month. So use that time to do whatever," he told a news
conference after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting here.

Abdullah was asked to comment on Anwar's call for parliament to
convene an
emergency session to debate an opposition motion of no confidence in the
government.

Asked if individuals would be arrested under the Internal Security Act
(ISA), he said, "I have no plans to use the ISA on anyone, I did not say
anything to anyone; if there are people who feel that they will be arrested
under the ISA, maybe it's because they feel guilty."

Earlier, People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) advisor Anwar
Thursday called for Parliament to convene an emergency
session to debate an opposition motion of no confidence in the government.

Speaking at a press conference here, Anwar said he sent a letter to Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday on the matter and wanted an
answer on it at the latest by Tuesday (Sept 23).

He also claimed that he had secured a majority in Parliament to enable
him to form the new government but would not reveal the names of Barisan
Nasional members of parliament crossing over for him to achieve it.

Should the request not materialise, he said the component parties in the
Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition would be holding a special meeting
thereafter to contemplate their next course of action (in forming the new
government).

Asked about the letter he sent to the Prime Minister on Sept 15, Anwar
said: "Its contents are rather obvious."

Anwar had said that it was for ensuring a smooth transition of power to the
People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat).

-- BERNAMA