Mr Anwar also was expelled from the United Malays National Organisation, the main party in the ruling National Front coalition, and set up the People's Justice Party. -- PHOTO: AP

The People's Justice Party is looking to challenge the ruling coalition in about 100 parliamentary seats in the March 8 elections, though no final numbers have been announced yet, party general secretary Khalid Ibrahim said Thursday.

He said the party expects to win at least 30 seats with the help of campaigning by Mr Anwar, who was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 after a political fallout with then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Mr Anwar also was expelled from the United Malays National Organisation, the main party in the ruling National Front coalition, and set up the People's Justice Party.

'Anwar attracts a lot of supporters and sympathizers,' Mr Khalid told reporters.

'Anwar will be bringing a new hope into the politics of Malaysia.'

Once considered a future prime minister, Mr Anwar's fortunes plunged when Mahathir accused him of corruption and sodomy.

He was convicted of the charges and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was released in 2004 after the sodomy charges were overturned by a higher court.

Mr Anwar maintains he was a victim of a political conspiracy because he challenged Mahathir.

Although he was cleared of the sodomy charge, the corruption conviction barred him from contesting in elections until April this year.

Mr Anwar says Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who succeeded Mahathir in 2003, called elections in March to prevent him from contesting.

The National Front coalition, which won 199 parliamentary seats in a landslide victory in 2004, is expected to easily return to power but with a reduced majority given frustrations over inflation, rising crime and ethnic tensions.

Some observers say Mr Anwar also no longer holds sway over the masses as he used to when tens of thousands took to the streets after his arrest and trial.

Malaysia's main opposition Democratic Action Front, or DAP, is expected to put up candidates for about 50 other seats, which will not overlap with Mr Anwar's party, general-secretary Lim Guan Eng said. DAP now has 12 seats in Parliament.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, is eyeing about 65 seats, but opposition parties are still holding last-minute negotiations ahead of Sunday?s nominations on collaborating to avoid multi-cornered fights, according to its general secretary, Kamarudin Jaffar. -- AFP