Sunday, August 24, 2008
Anwar: No moral qualms about triggering defections (3:05 p.m.)

PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia -- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he has no moral qualms about toppling the government with lawmaker defections, claiming the country cannot afford to wait four years for the next elections to bring about change.

"Four years will be disastrous for the economy, the political system, the judiciary," Anwar told The Associated Press late Saturday while on a campaign trail.

Anwar will contest a Tuesday by-election from the northern district of Permatang Pauh for a seat in Parliament. He is expected to win easily despite facing an imminent trial on the charge of sodomizing a male aide, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

Anwar's aides say a large group of ruling coalition lawmakers is waiting for him to enter Parliament so they can defect. A former deputy prime minister with ambitions for the top job, Anwar has said he will bringing down the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by September 16. (AP)