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SELANGOR: Malaysia will hold a by-election on August 26. The seat in Permatang Pauh was vacated after its Member of Parliament, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, stepped down last week to allow her husband, de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, to run for the seat.
Mr Anwar is expected to be charged on Thursday with sodomy – an offence punishable by up to 20 years in prison. But he has vowed to continue his election campaign.
With the crucial Permatang Pauh by-election less than three weeks away, Mr Anwar has launched a personal attack against Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi for masterminding a political conspiracy to prevent his leadership challenge.
"This is a man under siege and he sees no way out but to distract public attention with the sham trial against me. He is now burning the forest to save his own tree. I hold the PM personally responsible for the damage that's about to be done to the nation and to the integrity of the Malays," Mr Anwar said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the investigating officer went to Mr Anwar's house in Bukit Segambut to serve him a notice to appear in court on Thursday. This came just hours after the Election Commission announced that Nomination Day would be on August 16, and Polling Day would be ten days later, on August 26.
Meanwhile, Mr Anwar has vowed to fight on. He has also stood by his pledge to take over the government with the help of defecting MPs, by the self-imposed deadline of September 16.
He said: "Whether I am denied bail or not, I will continue the campaign."
Analysts foresee major hurdles ahead for Mr Anwar, with an impending court hearing and signs of cracks emerging within the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat.
While it is a foregone conclusion that he is going to win big in his home turf in the upcoming by-election, some political analysts said the decision to charge him in court is going to deliver a bigger win for him, amid rising public sympathy and support.
- CNA/so
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