Anwar Says He'll Take Power in Malaysia, Wants Talks

Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he has the support of enough lawmakers to form a government and has written to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss a ``peaceful transition'' of power.
``We have the numbers and we are ready,'' Anwar told about 10,000 supporters at a rally late last night outside Kuala Lumpur. ``The best would be when we are able to address this with the prime minister, give him ample evidence.''
Anwar, whose three-party People's Alliance is 30 seats short of a majority in the 222-member parliament, may announce the defection of government lawmakers at a press conference at 2 p.m. today, said Ginie Lim, a spokesman for his party. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak rejected the speculation.
Abdullah, whose ruling coalition lost a record number of seats and its two-thirds majority in March elections, also rejects Anwar's claims of being able to take power today. Political tensions have risen in the past week, with police detaining an opposition lawmaker, an anti-government blogger and a journalist under a law allowing detention without trial.
``There's mounting pressure on Abdullah,'' said Tricia Yeoh, director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies in Kuala Lumpur.
Last night's rally was called to protest the detentions, and Anwar, 61, pledged that he would scrap the security law. The arrests led to protests from Gerakan and the Malaysian Chinese Association, two Chinese-based parties in the ruling coalition.
Today's date is the same day in 1963 when the Federation of Malaysia was formed, and Anwar's alliance has pledged to end racial preferences in the multiethnic country that currently make ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities pay more for homes, gain better grades to enter university and compete for jobs after Malay allocations have been filled.
``The government is still in power,'' Najib told reporters today. ``The government of today will continue to lead and be in power. These are the tactics of the opposition which we call politics of distraction.''
tunku : it's 16th september....anyway, if he really has enough numbers, you think he'll wait and waste time now?may be the numbers can reduce if he keep waiting.this is all political gimmick by anwar and many had falls in it.i think he gets the mps in his dreams.everytime he dream, he becomes pm.pity anwar and his supporters which can't see his game.