ANWAR BACKTRACKS ON POWER BID

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 - Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has now backtracked on claims he is on the verge of taking power, and says "it is not an issue of deadlines," anymore. Anwar had originally set two deadlines - Sept 16 and then Sept 23 - as dates on which his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance would take over the federal government.

But after both dates passed with little incident, his supporters are beginning to express frustration and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are even calling him a liar.

Said Anwar today: "They have called me many things before. The point is if they believe I'm a liar, then put me to the test in Parliament."

Speaking to reporters at the lobby of the Court Complex in Jalan Duta here early this afternoon after attending the mention for his Sodomy II trial, Anwar clarified that it is no longer about setting and meeting deadlines but rather about forming the next federal government in a non-violent and lawful manner.

For that, he said, he is willing to wait for the prime minister to respond positively and is not willing to issue an ultimatum.

"We are going to exhaust all the legal avenues available. We do not want to transgress the constitutional rules and procedures," he said.

The prime minister has already rejected the notion of meeting with the opposition at all to discuss a transfer of power and has even challenged them to disclose the number of parliamentarians who will "cross over" from BN.

On the possibility of tabling the motion of no-confidence against Abdullah's leadership in Parliament, Anwar said: "Our problem is... in Malaysian democracy... there is no guarantee."

He explained that when he wrote a letter to the prime minister requesting a meeting to discuss the transition of power, Abdullah had rejected it publicly without undertaking the possibility of a vote of no-confidence being tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

In spite of all that, Anwar remains optimistic that Abdullah will meet him.

He also said that he had drafted - but not yet sent - a letter to the King to inform him of the measures he had taken towards a smooth and peaceful transition of government.

However, he did not reply to questions about whether he was seeking an audience with the King.
"I appeal to my Malaysian citizens, particularly those who want to see a change, to understand, to be a bit more patient," he said. ... [TMI]