PM denies talks with PKR

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied he had had talks with the Opposition over the transition of power, as reported by a foreign news agency.
He said there had been no meeting between his office and PKR.
The foreign report, quoting PKR information chief Tian Chua, said the Pakatan Rakyat alliance had opened talks with the Government through a “third party” to discuss the political impasse with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “We managed to break through in some discussions through a third party and soon a direct negotiation will happen between Abdullah and Anwar,” he was quoted as saying.
The same agency also reported that Tian Chua’s claims were immediately rubbished by the Prime Minister’s political secretary Alwi Che Ahmad.
Anwar claims he has convinced enough Members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional government to switch to his side and take over the government.
He said he wanted Abdullah to call for an emergency Parliament session to move a vote of no-confidence in his premiership.

Pakatan says in handover talks with gov't
The Pakatan Rakyat opposition said it has begun negotiations with the ruling coalition over a transition of power, after it claimed to have signed up enough defectors to topple the government.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has refused to meet with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim but officials said contacts are being made through intermediaries.
"There is initial contact between our middleperson and Abdullah's middleperson," said Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar's PKR.
"Our intention in holding them is for a transition of power to the opposition but I cannot speak for the other side," he told AFP.
"So far it looks good and we will wait to see what happens."
Meetings had been held
Tian Chua said contact was made initially on the weekend and that more than one meeting had taken place.
Anwar said earlier this month that he had the support of more than 31 lawmakers from the ruling coalition but refused to release the list of names until Abdullah agreed to a meeting.
He has asked Abdullah to reconvene Parliament - which is currently not in session - to debate a motion of no confidence against him. The opposition leader has given today, Sept 23, as deadline for the prime minister to respond.
The premier however refused to recall Parliament and dismissed Anwar's claims as bluff.
Abdullah has thus far shown no sign of stepping down even as he faces another challenge from cabinet ministers who have called on him to quit before his scheduled departure in 2010.
Abdullah has been fighting for his political life since a March general election handed the opposition unprecedented gains and plunged the coalition into disarray.
Ruling party insiders say he is now under intense pressure to quit by the end of the year.

tunku : pkr with its anwar and tian chua are lying at their very level best in this holy month of ramadhan.they still talking about changing the government when most of malaysian knows that these people are lying and making a drama out of nothing.again i am saying, if they had enough mps, go ahead and see the YDP Agong or wait for 13th Oct for the next parliament session and do what ever you want to do.for now, cut the crap.don't forget tomorrow, anwar (sodomy) court case at jalan duta.