Published by The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today the fresh sodomy accusations pre-empted his planned announcement to contest for a parliament seat through a by-election and the defection of four government lawmakers.
“The whole government was at stake,” Anwar told the Reuters news agency via telephone frpm the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur. “Four MPs already cleared with me.” The former deputy prime minister is scheduled to leave the embassy at 6.30pm after entering it Sunday morning.
Anwar, who is suing his political aide for alleging sodomy and claims it’s politically motivated, has been fishing for Barisan Nasional lawmakers dissatisfied with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership after the coalition’s dismal electoral performance.
BN lost power in four more states apart from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) keeping Kelantan and its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament. BN component Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) said two weeks ago it would push or support a no-confidence motion against Abdullah but their two lawmakers were recalled home due to alleged death threats.
Anwar himself is now claiming a plot to assassinate him has been hatched by the office of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who denied the claims.