By ANTARA News,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to seize power from a “corrupt” government at a rally of some 15,000 supporters as he fights back against new sodomy accusations.
In an impassioned speech to a packed stadium Tuesday night, Anwar said it was time to boot out the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which has governed Malaysia for a half a century since independence from Britain.
“The BN government cannot be trusted to manage the economy of this country because there is too much corruption,” he was quoted by AFP as telling the crowd which shouted the opposition battlecry of “Reformasi” or “Reform”.
“Time is up, you get out, let us move in!” Anwar said to loud cheers.
Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked a decade ago and spent six years in prison on sodomy and corruption counts, made a stunning return to politics in March elections that dealt the BN an unprecedented setback.
The 60-year-old political maverick said the new accusations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old male aide who volunteered in his office for several months “never happened”.
“I will fight these allegations day and night and I won’t accept defeat over this evil and lies,” he said, adding that his accuser was being manipulated by powerful forces.
“He just became a pawn in their game to attack me. I’m sad that the young boy has ended up in this way.” Sodomy is a criminal offense in this conservative country which is predominantly Muslim.
Anwar has said he is poised to form a government with the help of defecting lawmakers from the ruling coalition, putting intense pressure on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who faces calls to quit over the polls debacle.
“They are still in a state of denial now that we have wrested so much power from them,” Anwar told the crowd, adding he had evidence that the government was mounting a conspiracy to humiliate him.
“Do you think I am going to quit? We will fight them.”
The stadium in suburban Kuala Lumpur was decorated with posters showing Anwar with a black eye, inflicted in a severe beating by the police chief shortly after his sacking.
“Don’t let this happen again,” read the caption.
Anwar fled to the Turkish embassy on the weekend, saying he feared for his life after being informed he could be targeted with a government assassination attempt.
He left his refuge on Monday after the government guaranteed his safety, but precautions were tight at the rally and Anwar was led into the hall by a line of security personnel.