Anwar throws down the gauntlet
By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian politics is heading for a showdown with opposition
leader Anwar Ibrahim demanding that the government of Prime Minister Abdullah
Badawi subject itself to a confidence vote in parliament by September 23.
Anwar's demand comes as a shock to the ruling Barisan Nasional or National
Front (NF) coalition which has ruled without interruption for five decades,
growing complacent until the March 8 general election in which voters gave the
Anwar-led opposition 82 seats in parliament, just 30 seats short of the simple
majority needed to form the government.
The NF coalition also lost five states to the opposition sending shockwaves
through the political establishment.
Since then, Anwar has been persuading NF members to defect
with a view to forming a simple-majority government, despite worries that such
tactics were "unethical" and "immoral" and the fear that once down that road
there is no turning back.
On April 1, Anwar had solemnly vowed to achieve defections and topple the
government by September 16. But parliament is in Ramadan recess until October
13 and the government appears to be taking refuge in this fact.
Anwar, who faces a sodomy trial starting on September 22, said on Thursday that
he now has the numbers gathered from among reformist lawmakers who are secretly
committed to toppling the government.
"Abdullah's days are numbered, the people truly want a change," Anwar told
Inter Press Service. "They want equality, justice and a democracy accountable
to the people."
However, an upset and angry Abdullah has dismissed Anwar as a liar and impostor
and has alleged that he does not have the numbers he claims. Abdullah has
dismissed Anwar's constant refrain of toppling the government as the act of a
desperate individual making empty promises.
Reacting within hours of Anwar's ultimatum, Abdullah said he would not order
parliament to convene because it has just gone into recess. "Whatever
no-confidence resolutions - they can to it after parliament opens," he said.
Political insiders say the outright rejection is a signal that a major
crackdown is about to be ordered.
Most alarming to civil society leaders is the warning Abdullah issued on
September 17 that Anwar's grab for power is a threat to national security and
would endanger the economy by affecting the flow of foreign investment.
"I will do what I have to do to protect and economy and save the country,"
Abdullah said, sparking immediate fears that a major crackdown against
opposition lawmakers and human-rights advocates would soon be unleashed
invoking the tough Internal Security Act (ISA).
Already the government has detained a prominent lawmaker and a blogger, both
allied with Anwar, under the ISA that allows for indefinite detention without
trial.
"He [Abdullah] is mixing up what are essentially issues of democracy, freedom
and the rule of law with national security. The use of the ISA to harass and
detain duly elected political opponents is a grave transgression of the law and
its continued use would further erode confidence in the current government and
exacerbate political instability," Anwar said.
Anwar said Malaysians and investors were supportive of comprehensive reforms,
including judicial independence, a free media, a professional police force and
investor-friendly laws.
Anwar has been detained under ISA laws twice, once as a radical student leader
in the 1970s and again in 1988 after he crossed swords with then-prime minister
Mahathir Mohamad, who had him charged with sodomy. He spent six years in jail
and was acquitted of the charge in 2004 by the country's highest court.
"It appears everything is heading for a climax and a major security crackdown
is possible," a prominent lawyer who did not want to be identified said. "I
myself am a target," he explained.
Investors have been pulling money out of Malaysian stocks since the March
election results, fearing political uncertainties would be prolonged. The Kuala
Lumpur Stock Exchange has dropped below the 1,000-point resistance level,
largely because of political fears but also because of the global financial
crisis.
"The recent developments coming together add a new and dangerous dimension to
the country's troubled politics. It gives a clear impression that a climax is
rushing up," the lawyer said.
Anwar is not rebuffed by Abdullah's rejection of his demand to convene a
special session of parliament.
"The opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition will convene an emergency meeting to
discuss our next course," Anwar said in a statement on Thursday. He also said
he may seek an audience with King Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who, although a
constitutional monarch, has powers to convene parliament, dismiss a prime
minister and invite a person enjoying the confidence of a majority in
parliament to form a new government.
However, the king has yet to be convinced that Anwar has a majority of
lawmakers behind him.
According to constitutional expert Shad Faruqi, the issue can only be settled
on the parliament floor through a confidence vote. "Otherwise, he can go to the
palace and have tea," Faruqi said.
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