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Anwar unbending on 'hooligans': Only Umno wants me out

Anwar: Putrajaya remains our direct target
Malaysia Chronicle

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is confident of support from Pakatan Rakyat partners DAP and PAS, dismissing calls from enemies such as the Barisan Nasional and former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim for asking him to step down as head of the opposition.

"Only UMNO wants me out," Anwar told TV Selangor in an interview.

He also slammed 'hooligans' for causing trouble in the PKR's recently completed direct elections, accusing them of having ulterior motives and bad intentions of making the party look weak in the eyes of the Malaysian public.

Indeed, his arch rival, Prime Minister Najib Razak, is expected to call snap polls early next year and has begun a series moves to roil the opposition as much as possible.

Will not bow to 'blackmail'

Nevertheless, Anwar was unfazed, saying he was sure that Pakatan would do well in the next general election despite fears that the trouble caused by Zaid and his faction had harmed the Pakatan's chances. Zaid had created a ruckus after he failed to beat long-time vice president Azmin Ali for the PKR deputy presidency and even accused Anwar of rigging the results.

Zaid, left, wants to form a new party
However, Anwar reiterated neither PKR nor Pakatan would bow to any form of blackmail or pressure from saboteurs within or outside their coalition.

A former Umno leader, Zaid has said he wants to form a new party 'Keadilan Baru'. But whatever the name he eventually decides on, pundits believe its aim is to spoil the Pakatan's chances in favor of the BN.

“Our party polls have ended and we will now be having our congress. Focus will surely be given to the next general election. At the coming congress, we will emerge stronger by introducing a team which comprises of more young professional leaders,” Anwar vowed.

Anwar pointed out that in 2008, few pundits gave the Pakatan much chance of success. Yet the PKR, DAP and PAS carted away 5 of the country's 13 states and more than half of the votes in the peninsula.

“In 2008, he thought that we would not be successful, but we proved him wrong. Now, we will try to take over another one or two states,” said Anwar, referring to former premier Mahathir Mohamad's recent remarks that Pakatan might lose "one or two" states.

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