Malaysian dissidents want PM to resign over Anwar win
Dissidents in Malaysia's ruling party demanded the prime minister's resignation yesterday after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim returned to Parliament with a sweeping election victory.
Anwar regained his Parliament seat in the north by a landslide in Tuesday's by-election, delivering a demoralising defeat for the government. Anwar's feat came on the heels of massive gains the opposition made in the March general elections.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had hoped to make amends in Tuesday's poll.
Veteran government lawmaker Razaleigh Hamzah, who wantfs to challenge Abdullah for the leadership of the United Malays National Organization ruling party, said the results meant that "what scraps of credibility (Abdullah) had left after March 8 are gone."Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has slammed his successor's policies after handing over power in 2003, said he believed many government supporters voted for Anwar so that Abdullah would realise his leadership is no longer wanted.
"Abdullah must take responsibility and resign now," Mahathir said.
A spokesperson for Abdullah's office could not immediately be reached.
Government leaders had mounted a fierce campaign to deny Anwar victory, hoping voters in Anwar's longtime bedrock of support would desert the charismatic politician after he was charged with sodomising his 23-year-old former male aide. A trial date has not been set.
Anwar said the "most sickening" allegation is politically motivated. His election victory has boosted his chances of toppling Abdullah's government through parliamentary defections, which he has vowed to do by Sept. 16.
Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said Anwar would be formally sworn in as a lawmaker Thursday. Opposition parties also planned to endorse him formally as their leader ahead of a key parliamentary session Friday, when Abdullah announces the annual budget.
Government supporters vented their fury on Internet forums.
Mykmu Net, a popular Web site for ruling party members, published comments by readers who said they hope Abdullah "will be quickly ousted" and that Abdullah's "resignation will be the only way out."
Abdullah has repeatedly resisted calls to resign immediately after the March elections.
Anwar's re-entry into Parliament will complete his political rehabilitation. He was fired as deputy prime minister in 1998 and jailed for six years after he was convicted of corruption and sodomizing his family driver.
Anwar's previous sodomy conviction was overturned by Malaysia's top court in 2004. He has always maintained that he was framed by his then-boss, Mahathir, because of a power struggle.
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