MR CONFIDENT MR CAUTIOUS MR ANWAR

M'SIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ANWAR IBRAHIM IN S'PORE MR CONFIDENT MR CAUTIOUS Speaks of plans for country Won't contest by-election without written approval from authorities By Patrick Jonas 23 May, 2008 THE man oozes confidence in large measure. Mr Anwar at a previous press conference. Picture: AP As the pages of the calendar flip by, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's vision of a new dawn draws closer, or so he claims. He hopes to form a new government by 16 Sep, which is Malaysia Day. Why 16 Sep? 'Malaysia Day is held in high regard by the people in Sabah and Sarawak,' the former Malaysian deputy prime minister told journalists at a breakfast meeting in Singapore yesterday. And what gives him the confidence, he says, is the number of ruling party members who have made secret trips to meet him. When he visited Hong Kong recently, they were there. On Tuesday night, one of them came all the way to his hotel in Singapore to see him. He is excited. Politics will not be the same anymore in Malaysia, he says. But he wants to be careful. 'Transition will have to be peaceful,' he said. 'We have the numbers and then we have to follow constitutional procedures for transfer of power.' By numbers, he meant around 30 more members in Parliament. 'We don't need two-thirds majority. A simple majority is enough.' Barisan Nasional has 140 seats in the 222-seat parliament. The opposition won 82 seats in the 8 Mar general elections. However, Mr Anwar is worried about attempts by opponents to stoke racial tension and create security issues. BUMPS AHEAD He may claim to have a smooth path towards forming a new government, but his road to gain entry into Parliament through a by-election looks bumpy. Though he became eligible to contest elections after 14Apr, he says he has not received any letter from the authorities stating so. His lawyers are now pursuing the matter. He is concerned that if he tries to contest a by-election, it could meet with roadblocks and there could be a backlash. To avoid this, 'the best way is to take over the government and correct all this.' In the event of the government calling snap polls, he said the opposition Pakatan Rakyat - the alliance of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Parti Islam SeMalaysia and Democratic Action Party - is ready. But he doubts that the ruling party will go for another round of elections. The component parties within Barisan Nasional are weak, he said. Mr Anwar brushed aside the current drama in Malaysia. He said that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad's resignation is part of his personal battle with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. As for his own personal battle with Dr Mahathir, the former deputy PM said he wants to leave behind the bitter past and move on. He added that a small minority is creating trouble by saying Malay power is being eroded. He intends to address this and said his planned new economic agenda will benefit all races and will not be at the expense of the Malays. Mr Anwar outlined his plans of what his government would do once it comes to power. How it would encourage Singapore to invest in Malaysia. How it would make Malaysia into a vibrant nation and regain its competitiveness and move up the economic ladder and how it will have excellent relations with its neighbours. And he said all these with the seeming assurance of a man already in power, not merely one waiting to assume it.