Anwar demands no-confidence vote

MALAYSIAN Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has stepped up pressure on the Government, demanding an emergency parliamentary session next week to hold a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"We must realise this is now a minority government. The majority of MPs are with us now," Mr Anwar said, adding the session should be convened by September 23.

That would be one day before Mr Anwar is due to appear again in court over sodomy charges he denies and which he and his supporters say are politically motivated.

Mr Anwar needs 30 Government MPs to join his opposition alliance which has 82 legislators in the 222-strong parliament.

He said on Tuesday he had the numbers and demanded handover talks with Mr Abdullah, although he declined to name MPs and say how many had said they would join him.

The demand for an emergency session came a day after a small party in Malaysia's ruling coalition walked out.

Also on Tuesday, Mr Abdullah handed the key finance ministry post to his Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and hinted he might leave the top job earlier than 2010 as planned.

The Daily Telegraph
18/09/08

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