KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian police have put up road blocks in the capital as they brace for protests ahead of a possible debate of no confidence in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday.
The opposition called Friday for the debate after Abdullah said he would remain in office until 2010 despite his party's drubbing in March elections.
The parliament speaker will decide Monday whether to allow the debate to go ahead.
Police said several roads leading to the parliament building would be sealed off Monday and urged people not to protest, although the Keadilan opposition party denied Sunday it had called for any demonstrations. All police leave has also been cancelled.
"The government is paranoid. We just called our supporters to witness the debate, but authorities think it will be a mass gathering. There is no need for the road blocks," said Tian Chua, information chief.
Tian also said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was Sunday banned from going anywhere close to parliament.
"Police came to Anwar's home today and presented the court order restricting him from going near parliament on Monday. If Anwar breaches the order, he could be arrested and charged in court," he told AFP.
Two rebel lawmakers from Abdullah's ruling National Front coalition have vowed to back the opposition debate.
News of the clampdown in the nation's capital comes as Malaysian police announced they are set to question opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday over allegations of sodomy by his former aide, a senior party official said.
Anwar has vowed to fight the accusations levelled by 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, which he says have been fabricated by the government to prevent him from seizing power after landmark March elections.
Opposition leader Anwar -- who has said he has the numbers to oust the government with the help of defecting lawmakers -- has promised to slash fuel prices if he comes to power.
The opposition alliance needs an additional 30 seats to win a simple majority and form the new government.
AFP/vm/ir
Channel NewsAsia
13/07/08
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