Anwar Ibrahim's way forward
2008-08-28 14:35
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian opposition
leader Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as an MP on Thursday,
returning to parliament after a decade-long absence following
what he says were trumped up sodomy and corruption charges.
What happens now?
Anwar's three-party coalition of reformers,
Islamists and an ethnic Chinese party have said they will
appoint him leader of the 82-strong Pakatan Rakat alliance in
parliament.
Even so, some political analysts doubt the
coalition is durable, largely due to tensions between the Parti
Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), which wants an Islamic state, and the
Chinese Democratic Action Party.
What steps would he have to take to win power?
Anwar has to win over at least 30 lawmakers from
the ruling coalition to get a simple majority in the 222-seat
parliament. He also needs to make sure that he gets enough
Malay Muslim MPs to join the opposition alliance as he moves to
form a new government by mid-September. Otherwise, leaders from
PAS, the Islamist party and a key component of Anwar's
opposition alliance, may not be at ease with the partnership,
which could lead to the collapse of the loose opposition
alliance.
Why September 16?
Anwar said he plans to bring down the government on
September 16 when he wins over enough lawmakers from the ruling
coalition.
It was on this date the Malaysian Federation was formed in
1963, bringing together Malaya, Singapore as well as Sabah and
Sarawak on Borneo island.
Sabah and Sarawak were strongholds of the ruling coalition
until the opposition inflicted heavy losses on the coalition in
the March 8 general election.
Political analysts and observers expect that the majority
of Anwar's defectors will come from the two East Malaysian
states.
What about the pending sodomy case?
Anwar can still lead the opposition alliance even
with the court case going on. Anwar has said he has a strong
alibi in the sodomy case. He has given details of his alibi to
the police investigating the sodomy allegation.