Agence France-Presse - 9/16/2008 4:14 AM GMT
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday rejected the opposition's claim that it has enough support to seize power as "mere dreams," saying he was under no pressure to resign.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had said late Monday he would form a new administration with defecting government lawmakers, and sought a meeting with Abdullah to show him the list of names and discuss a handover.
"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," Abdullah retorted at a press conference.
"He has no substance but the people will continue to be fascinated by him."
Abdullah, who has faced repeated calls to quit since elections in March which saw the opposition dramatically increase its numbers in parliament, said he did not feel compelled to quit.
"Why should I be pressured? It is mere dreams. If at all it is true, (Anwar) would have announced it by now. The whole world would have known," he said.
"Do you think he would ask for a meeting with me to discuss a transition? He would storm into my room with hundreds behind him, shouting victory. This is Anwar's style."
After the elections, Anwar set himself a target of September 16 to persuade at least 30 government lawmakers to switch sides and enable him to form a new administration.
Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar's Keadilan party, said the three-member opposition alliance had secured a simple majority in parliament and that more government lawmakers would defect later.
But he said there were concerns that the coalition -- which has ruled since independence from Britain 51 years ago -- would stoke conflict in order to justify a crackdown to keep itself in power.
Abdullah did not rule out a meeting with Anwar, who wants an assurance that the government will not deploy the police and military onto the streets.
"We will see if there is anything concrete to discuss at a suitable time," Abdullah said, but insisted he was getting on with the business of governing.
"Our government is in power, we will continue to do our work," he said, holding a meeting with top civil servants.
He also dismissed suggestions he faces a revolt from within his cabinet, after six ministers spoke out against the arrests last week of an opposition politician, a blogger and a reporter under internal security laws.
"They were giving their views and this is because I allow ministers to express their views," he said.
Abdullah refused to discuss his plan to transfer power to his deputy Najib Razak in mid-2010, which both Najib and influential trade minister Muhyiddin Yassin have now questioned.
The opposition has said Najib and Muhyiddin may be preparing to challenge Abdullah and install themselves as the new premier and deputy.
Abdullah, who has also been hit with the resignation of his law minister over the controversial arrests, acknowledged the ruling party had been plunged into disarray since the elections debacle.
"Whatever weakness there is in our party, we will rectify the best we can," he said.
The political uncertainty has paralysed investment in recent months and depressed trading on the stock market, which dropped 2.5 percent over last week and another 2.1 percent in early trading Tuesday.
Hatta Ramli, from the Islamic party PAS which is a member of the opposition alliance, said that if Abdullah refuses a meeting the next step would be to see Malaysia's king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, to clam a mandate to rule.
"The issue of appointment of the prime minister and change of government is very much the role of the king," he said, adding that the opposition now had the support of as many as 116 parliamentarians.
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Malaysian minister paints damning portrait of embattled govt
Agence France-Presse - 9/16/2008 6:12 AM GMT
A Malaysian minister said Tuesday he would consider joining the opposition, after quitting the embattled government which he portrayed as paralysed by internal strife and racial divisions.
Zaid Ibrahim, a maverick reformer tasked with cleaning up the judiciary and police force, said he had met a "brick wall" from the ruling party which has dominated politics for half a century.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who has now been hit with opposition claims it has enough support to seize power, refused to accept his resignation Monday and asked him to spend a fortnight reconsidering.
"Although the prime minister asked me to take a two-week leave, I say thank you to him, I am not tired. I am just disappointed," Zaid told a press conference.
He indicated he could join the opposition, which political observers say is very likely to form a new administration if the ruling coalition continues to defy calls for reform.
"I don't know their leaders, but I have open mind," he said.
Zaid, who was brought into the cabinet in March as the minister responsible for legal affairs, said he was infuriated by a series of arrests last week under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA).
An opposition politician, the nation's leading blogger and a journalist for a Chinese-language daily were detained, triggering rare criticism from six cabinet ministers.
"The ISA detentions were the last straw for me. I did not expect that the government would consider a journalist as a national threat. How can a member of parliament be a national threat?" he asked.
But he said he was also frustrated after failing to introduce any reforms, and being painted as a traitor to Muslim Malays, who dominate a population that also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
"I admit I have failed, the whole time I have faced opposition from within my own party, and colleagues saying that I don't fight for my own race. It is as if I am less of a Malay... by suggesting these transformations," he said.
"I realise I am facing a brick wall. I cannot translate or make them understand that we are the same country for all races, all ethnicities."
The portrayal of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) as a bastion of racial chauvinism is a heavy indictment on the ruling party, which leads a multiracial coalition and portrays itself as the bulwark of ethnic harmony.
Zaid said that racial divisions were worsening in Malaysia -- where Malays control government and Chinese are dominant in business -- and that politicians were partly responsible for stoking the tensions.
"We have to take action against some people who are bent on creating these divisions because of their own political agenda," he said.
The outgoing minister said that Abdullah, who came to power in 2003 with promises for reform and to fight corruption which is endemic in Malaysia, had been prevented from governing effectively by internal party brawling.
"I was looking for some signs of change, some development, but I was disappointed," he said.
http://news.my.msn.com/
A Malaysian minister said Tuesday he would consider joining the opposition, after quitting the embattled government which he portrayed as paralysed by internal strife and racial divisions.
Zaid Ibrahim, a maverick reformer tasked with cleaning up the judiciary and police force, said he had met a "brick wall" from the ruling party which has dominated politics for half a century.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who has now been hit with opposition claims it has enough support to seize power, refused to accept his resignation Monday and asked him to spend a fortnight reconsidering.
"Although the prime minister asked me to take a two-week leave, I say thank you to him, I am not tired. I am just disappointed," Zaid told a press conference.
He indicated he could join the opposition, which political observers say is very likely to form a new administration if the ruling coalition continues to defy calls for reform.
"I don't know their leaders, but I have open mind," he said.
Zaid, who was brought into the cabinet in March as the minister responsible for legal affairs, said he was infuriated by a series of arrests last week under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA).
An opposition politician, the nation's leading blogger and a journalist for a Chinese-language daily were detained, triggering rare criticism from six cabinet ministers.
"The ISA detentions were the last straw for me. I did not expect that the government would consider a journalist as a national threat. How can a member of parliament be a national threat?" he asked.
But he said he was also frustrated after failing to introduce any reforms, and being painted as a traitor to Muslim Malays, who dominate a population that also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
"I admit I have failed, the whole time I have faced opposition from within my own party, and colleagues saying that I don't fight for my own race. It is as if I am less of a Malay... by suggesting these transformations," he said.
"I realise I am facing a brick wall. I cannot translate or make them understand that we are the same country for all races, all ethnicities."
The portrayal of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) as a bastion of racial chauvinism is a heavy indictment on the ruling party, which leads a multiracial coalition and portrays itself as the bulwark of ethnic harmony.
Zaid said that racial divisions were worsening in Malaysia -- where Malays control government and Chinese are dominant in business -- and that politicians were partly responsible for stoking the tensions.
"We have to take action against some people who are bent on creating these divisions because of their own political agenda," he said.
The outgoing minister said that Abdullah, who came to power in 2003 with promises for reform and to fight corruption which is endemic in Malaysia, had been prevented from governing effectively by internal party brawling.
"I was looking for some signs of change, some development, but I was disappointed," he said.
http://news.my.msn.com/
Malaysian opposition says signed up at least 31 defectors
Agence France-Presse - 9/16/2008 6:52 AM GMT
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday he has secured the support of at least 31 government lawmakers, enabling him to form a new administration with a slim majority.
"We have a slight majority, it is in excess of 31," he said of the number of parliamentarians from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition who have agreed to switch sides. He did not reveal any names of the lawmakers.
In March elections Anwar's three-member opposition alliance gained 80 seats in the 222-seat parliament, with the coalition holding 140 and losing its two-thirds majority for the first time.
http://news.my.msn.com/
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday he has secured the support of at least 31 government lawmakers, enabling him to form a new administration with a slim majority.
"We have a slight majority, it is in excess of 31," he said of the number of parliamentarians from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition who have agreed to switch sides. He did not reveal any names of the lawmakers.
In March elections Anwar's three-member opposition alliance gained 80 seats in the 222-seat parliament, with the coalition holding 140 and losing its two-thirds majority for the first time.
http://news.my.msn.com/
Malaysian opposition says has enough defectors to form govt
Agence France-Presse - 9/16/2008 7:47 AM GMT
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday he has secured the support of more than 31 government lawmakers, enabling him to form a new administration with a slim majority.
"We have a slight majority, it is in excess of 31," he said of the number of parliamentarians from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition who have agreed to switch sides.
"We have achieved victory. Hopefully with this win we can regain the country's dignity."
He did not reveal any names but said he had asked to meet with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss a transition of power and was prepared to show him the list of defectors.
Abdullah has rejected Anwar's claims as "political lies" and ruled out resigning, but the opposition leader urged him to accept a peaceful handover.
"We have now the required numbers to form a government. The PM cannot deny us and refuse to engage with an alternative government. I appeal to the government to allow a smooth transition," he told a press conference.
"We want the process to be seen as conciliatory, we want the transition to be peaceful but we have a limit to our patience. We will give a few days then we have to reconsider our options."
Abdullah did not rule out a meeting earlier Tuesday, but his spokesman Kamal Khalid said it was unlikely.
"I doubt very much he will be meeting with Anwar," he told AFP.
Anwar urged the government not to arrest his new ministers under draconian internal security laws, or declare a state of emergency in an attempt to prevent him from seizing power.
His comments came after a crackdown last week when three people -- an opposition politician, a prominent blogger and a reporter -- were arrested under tough security laws that allow for detention without trial.
"I wish to emphasise that the change in the process should be peaceful. We do not want documents and other assets of the government destroyed. I would like to advise the Barisan Nasional leaders not to abuse their powers, not to arrest or torture our leaders," Anwar said.
The 61-year-old opposition leader, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, said it was difficult for members of the ruling coalition to accept that "their ship is sinking."
"They are still, unfortunately, in a state of denial," he said.
In March elections Anwar's three-member opposition alliance gained 80 seats in the 222-seat parliament, with the coalition holding 140 and losing its two-thirds majority for the first time.
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Chronology of Anwar Ibrahim's tumultuous decade
Agence France-Presse - 9/16/2008 6:31 AM GMT
In a roller-coaster political career, Anwar Ibrahim was sacked a decade ago as deputy premier and jailed for six years before returning to the political stage as Malaysian opposition leader.
Here is a chronology of recent political events that have led to his statement Tuesday that he has secured the support of enough government lawmakers to form a new administration.
Sept 1998: Anwar Ibrahim, then deputy to prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, is sacked and slapped with sodomy and corruption charges that he said were politically motivated.
April 1999: Found guilty of corruption and sentenced to six years in jail.
August 2000: Found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in prison.
August 2000: Found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Sept 2004: Released after Malaysia's highest court overturns sodomy conviction.
March 2008: Leads a resurgent opposition to stunning victories in general elections, seizing five states and a third of parliamentary seats
-- Soon after he outlines a plan to seize power from the ruling coalition with the help of defecting government lawmakers.
-- Soon after he outlines a plan to seize power from the ruling coalition with the help of defecting government lawmakers.
April 2008: Ban on holding public office, relating to his corruption conviction, expires.
June 2008: Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 23-year-old who was a volunteer at his office, lodges a police report claiming Anwar sodomised him.
July 10: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi heads off calls to resign by saying he will hand over to his deputy Najib Razak in mid-2010.
July 16: Anwar arrested amid a tussle over fixing a date for police interrogation, and spends night in custody before being released.
July 31: Announces he will contest parliamentary by-election for the Permatang Pauh constituency in his home state of Penang, after his wife resigns the seat to make way for him.
August 7: Anwar is charged with sodomy, an offence that carries a penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Says he is still on track to seize power by September 16.
August 26: Wins a landslide by-election victory.
August 28: Sworn in to parliament and declared leader of the opposition.
Sept 5: Abdullah vows to thwart Anwar's plan to seize power.
Sept 8: Government sends dozens of its parliamentarians on a "study tour" to Taiwan in an apparent bid to prevent them from switching sides.
Sept 10: In a sign of cracks in the ruling coalition, Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin urges Abdullah to consider stepping down before mid-2010.
Sept 12: An opposition politician, a prominent blogger and a journalist are arrested under draconian internal security laws, triggering widespread criticism even from within the cabinet.
Sept 15: Anwar says he he has enough support to topple the government and wants to meet with Abdullah to discuss a handover.
Sept 16: Abdullah says the opposition's claims are "mere dreams" and rules out resigning.
