Opposition leader Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughter Nurul. – Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 – Despite its de facto leader facing new sodomy claims, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition is confident it can oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government by September 16 or Malaysia Day.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been courting defectors from Abdullah's Barisan Nasional in a bid to seize power for a historic first time but a second sodomy charge in a decade is a hiccup to his plans.
"Well, optimistically, I think we can keep to the deadline," said Parliamentary Opposition leader Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar's wife and president of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat leading the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
"The expectations are very high from the people," she told the Reuters in an interview this evening.
Saying that any change of power would be smooth and peaceful, she added "We don't want to have any upheaval or turmoil ... We don't want to have the feeling of uneasiness."
Anwar, 60, was to announce over the weekend plans to stand in a parliamentary by-election but shelved it after a 23-year-old personal aide accused him of sodomy last week. Police have classified the case as sodomy but no charges have been filed.
Getting into parliament would be a step closer for Anwar to lead the opposition to power and become prime minister after years of being dubbed prime-minister-in-waiting by detractor-turned-ally Lim Kit Siang.
Lim Kit Siang's Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) had joined PKR in a pact that made historic gains in the March elections, winning five of 13 state governments and getting within 30 seats of controlling the 222-member parliament.
Like most Malaysians who believe the sexual misconduct charges are false, Wan Azizah said she still had faith in Anwar despite the second sodomy claim in 10 years.
"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.
Anwar spent six years in jail for abuse of power and sodomy charges but the Federal Court overturned the conviction in 2004, after Abdullah took over from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who retired.
"Politically, Anwar was gaining strength. He has to be stopped at any costs. It's a desperate measure," she pointed out.
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 added.
Anwar took refuge in the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur early Sunday citing death threats but left on Monday evening after getting government assurances of his safety.
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