Some of the potential defectors staying back despite nod for overseas trip during crucial time
Government attempts to compel MPs to travel overseas until after his pledged Sept 16 deadline to take power would not work, Mr Anwar said. -- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Jakarta - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, here on a two-day visit, said yesterday that he is on track to meet his deadline to recruit enough MPs this month to topple the government.
The opposition is confident it will secure the defection of at least 30 members from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) - the number needed to unseat the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, he said.
And although the government has approved an overseas trip by Barisan MPs that will clash with the opposition's Sept 16 deadline for the takeover, significantly, some MPs believed to be among potential defectors have said they are staying back in Malaysia.
Datuk Seri Anwar, speaking to reporters in the Indonesian capital after a meeting with a think-tank, said he was 'quite positive from the initial response from the Members of Parliament'.
'We have seen some very positive signs, but we have also seen the desperate acts by the government, threats and using institutions to discourage them,' he said.
Government attempts to compel MPs to travel overseas until after his pledged Sept 16 deadline to take power would not work, Mr Anwar said.
'The only issue now is that they are going to compel Members of Parliament to (travel to) China or overseas until after the 16th of September, so we'll have to deal with that. Probably we'll meet on the 17th because they'll come back on the 17th,' he said.
The 61-year-old leader of the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition declined to name or give the number of lawmakers who have pledged to defect.
Asked if he had used his two-day trip to Jakarta to meet potential government defectors, Mr Anwar said: 'I won't comment on that, but I will say it's a good visit.'
Datuk Seri Abdullah, who is facing calls from his party to quit amid plummeting popularity, has said Mr Anwar's push to take power will fail. The parties of Pakatan Rakyat gained unprecedented ground against the BN coalition in the March general election, securing a third of parliamentary seats and five states.
Mr Abdullah on Friday supported the plan by Barisan MPs to go abroad this week until Sept 16, in what is seen as a panicky move to thwart Mr Anwar's attempt.
Some 48 MPs have agreed to go, said BN Backbenchers Club chairman Tiong King Sing. BN has 140 MPs, including 65 ministers and deputy ministers. The remaining 75 are government backbenchers.
It is unclear where they would go, with some reports mentioning Australia or New Zealand. Tan Sri Tiong said China or Taiwan was being considered.
A number of MPs who had been named previously as possible defectors said they are staying put in the country due to busy schedules with their Muslim constituents during the fasting month.
They include Sabah MPs Anipah Aman, Abdul Ghapur Salleh, Eric Majimbun and Chua Soon Bui.
