Malaysia's opposition undeterred, says Anwar's wife

Wed Jul 2, 2008 6:04am EDT

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition will forge on in its efforts to topple the government by mid-September, despite a sodomy allegation against Anwar Ibrahim, his wife said on Wednesday.

The opposition, spearheaded by Anwar's political party, has been wooing defectors from the ruling National Front coalition in its bid to seize power for the first time in Malaysian history.

"Well, optimistically, I think we can keep to the (September) deadline," said Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the official leader of Anwar's People's Justice party.

"The expectations are very high from the people," she told Reuters in an interview.

But she said any change of power would be smooth and peaceful.

"We don't want to have any upheaval or turmoil ... We don't want to have the feeling of uneasiness."

Anwar, 60, had hoped to unveil plans this week to contest in a parliamentary by-election, but said that plan had been shelved because of the sodomy allegation. Police are investigating the accusation, but no charges have been filed.

Winning a seat in parliament would be the first step on the road to Anwar's wider ambition of leading the opposition to power for the first time in Malaysian history.

The three-party opposition alliance made historic gains in a March 8 general election, winning five of 13 state governments and coming within 30 seats of taking control of the 222-member parliament.

Wan Azizah, a 55-year-old eye doctor by training, said she still had faith in Anwar despite the second sodomy claim in 10 years.

He was jailed for six years in the first case, but the Federal Court overturned the conviction in 2004, after Abdullah Badawi took over when long-time premier Mahathir Mohamad retired.

"The first time it didn't work. So they are trying to do it again. It's not right, it's a complete fabrication," the mother of six said.

"Politically, Anwar was gaining strength. He has to be stopped at any costs. It's a desperate measure."

She said she pitied her children who have to endure the agony again.

"It saddens me, bothers me, upsets me. This they have to undergo again."

Wan Azizah said the threat on Anwar's life was real, drawing parallels to the assassination of iconic Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

"You cannot discount the fact he is the main obstacle for people who want to hold on to power," she said.

Anwar took refuge in the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur early Sunday citing assassination threats. He left on Monday evening after getting government assurances of his safety.

(Editing by Bill Tarrant and Ben Tan)