Malaysia's Political Showdown Imminent

By BARADAN KUPPUSAMY / IPS WRITER

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian politics is heading for a showdown with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim demanding that the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi subject itself to a confidence vote in parliament by September 23.

Anwar’s demand comes as a shock to the ruling Barisan Nasional or National Front (NF) coalition which has ruled without interruption for five decades, growing complacent until the March 8 general election in which voters punished it giving the Anwar-led opposition 82 seats in parliament, just 30 seats short of a simple majority to form the government.

The NF coalition also lost five states to the opposition sending shock waves through the political establishment.

Since that historic date Anwar has been persuading NF backbenchers to defect with a view to forming a simple-majority government, despite worries that such tactics were 'unethical' and 'immoral' and the fear that once down that road there is no turning back.

On April 1 Anwar had solemnly vowed to achieve defections and topple the government by September 16. But parliament is in Ramadan recess until October 13 and the government appears to be taking refuge in it.

Anwar, who faces a sodomy trial starting on September 22, said that he now has the numbers gathered from among reformist lawmakers who are secretly committed to toppling the government.

"Abdullah’s days are numbered, the people truly want a change," Anwar told IPS in an interview. "They want equality, justice and a democracy accountable to the people."

However, an upset and angry Abdullah has dismissed Anwar as a liar and impostor who does not have the numbers claimed, and has dismissed the constant refrain to topple the government as the act of a desperate individual making empty promises.

Reacting within hours of Anwar’s ultimatum, Abdullah said he will not order parliament to convene because it just went into recess. "Whatever no confidence resolution… they can to it after parliament opens," he said.

Political insiders say the outright rejection is a signal that a major crackdown is about to be ordered.

Most alarming to civil society leaders is the warning Abdullah issued on September 17 that Anwar’s grab for power is a threat to national security and would endanger the economy by affecting the flow of foreign investment.

"I will do what I have to do to protect and economy and save the country," Abdullah told reporters, sparking immediate fears that a major crackdown against opposition lawmakers and human rights advocates would soon be unleashed invoking the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA).

Already the government has detained a prominent lawmaker and a blogger, both allied with Anwar, under the ISA that allows for indefinite detention without trial.

"He (Abdullah) is mixing up what are essentially issues of democracy, freedom and the rule of law with national security. The use of the ISA to harass and detain duly elected political opponents is a grave transgression of the law and its continued use would further erode confidence in the current government and exacerbate political instability," Anwar said.

Anwar said that Malaysians and investors were for comprehensive reforms, including judicial independence, a free media, a professional police force and investor-friendly laws.

Anwar has been detained under ISA laws twice before, once as a radical student leader in the 1970s and again in 1988 after he crossed swords with then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who had him charged with sodomy. He spent six years in jail and was acquitted of the charge in 2004 by the country’s highest court.

"It appears everything is heading for a climax and a major security crackdown is possible," a prominent lawyer who did not want to be identified told IPS. "I myself am a target," he explained.

Investors have been pulling out money from Malaysia stocks since the March election results, fearing political uncertainties would be prolonged. The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange has dropped below the 1,000 point resistance level, largely because of political fears but also because of the global financial crisis.

"The recent developments coming together are adding a new and dangerous dimension to the country’s troubled politics. It is giving a clear impression that a climax is rushing up," the lawyer said.

Anwar is not rebuffed by Abdullah’s rejection of his demand for convening a special session of parliament.

"The opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition will convene an emergency meeting to discuss our next course," Anwar said in a statement on Thursday. He also said he may seek an audience with King Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin who, although a constitutional monarch, has powers to convene parliament, dismiss a prime minister and invite a person enjoying the confidence of a majority in parliament to form a new government.

However the king has yet to be convinced that Anwar has a majority of lawmakers behind him.

According to constitutional expert Shad Faruqi the issue can only be settled on the parliament floor through a confidence vote. "Otherwise, he can go to the palace and have tea," Faruqi told The Sun daily on September 18.