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Malaysia opposition says takeover may be delayed

Malaysia’s opposition admitted yesterday it might not meet its goal of seizing power by next week as it sent a delegation to pursue potential defectors from the government on a trip to Taiwan.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly said he was “on track” to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition by Tuesday, but his party said in a statement that it could be delayed.

“The process of transformation to a new government ... is proceeding smoothly and we believe that Barisan Nasional will be replaced in a very short period,” the statement said.

“The date might be delayed from Sept. 16 ... but the agenda is still going on,” it said, adding that one complicating factor had been the government’s move to “ship” lawmakers overseas this week.

The ruling coalition sent 46 parliamentarians on a controversial and hastily arranged “study trip” to Taiwan, in what Anwar said was an attempt to “corral and seclude” parliamentarians amid the high-stakes negotiations.

Leaders of Anwar’s Keadilan party, which fronts the three-member opposition alliance, were headed there yesterday to meet with the delegation, in a “gatecrashing” move that was likely to irritate the government.

“We are looking forward to meeting with BN MPs and to have discussions and meals with them,” said Keadilan information chief Tian Chua, who is leading the four-person team.

“Our team will also meet with Taiwan’s government and opposition parties to brief them on the political situation in Malaysia,” he said.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday refused to confirm the visit.

“We have heard through the grapevine that more Malaysian officials are coming to Taiwan, but we cannot confirm it,” ministry Deputy Spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) said.

The Malaysian Friend and Trade Center in Taipei also said yesterday it could not confirm the visit.

“We have no idea who will come and when will they be coming [to Taiwan], therefore we cannot confirm,” an officer at the center said, adding that the four Malaysian opposition leaders could have come to Taiwan easily without the center’s assistance thanks to Taiwan’s visa-waiver program.

Anwar needs 30 of the 140 coalition lawmakers to defect to form a new government. Most of the potential crossovers are believed to be from the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island.

“They play all sorts of political games so don’t get carried away ... I don’t think BN MPs will defect,” Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters.

The opposition alliance gained unprecedented ground in March’s general elections, securing a third of parliamentary seats and five states from the coalition, which has ruled since independence from Britain half a century ago.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has faced repeated calls to quit since the polls debacle, and in recent days his plan to hand over power to his deputy by mid-2010 has come under renewed scrutiny.

Malaysian Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin — who is seen as a potential challenger — this week said Abdullah should consider stepping down earlier to allow a new leader to address the issues that have eroded government support.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JENNY W. HSU

Also See: Malaysia detains anti-government blogger indefinitely
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