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Malaysia's Anwar sworn in as MP | Malaysia's Anwar sworn in as MP |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as a member of parliament, ending an absence of nearly a decade. | The Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as a member of parliament, ending an absence of nearly a decade. |
"I feel vindicated. I feel great that I am back," Mr Anwar told reporters after the ceremony. | "I feel vindicated. I feel great that I am back," Mr Anwar told reporters after the ceremony. |
Mr Anwar recorded a sweeping victory in a by-election on Tuesday, despite facing fresh accusations of sodomy. | Mr Anwar recorded a sweeping victory in a by-election on Tuesday, despite facing fresh accusations of sodomy. |
The former deputy prime minister has consistently denied the charges, which he says are politically motivated. | The former deputy prime minister has consistently denied the charges, which he says are politically motivated. |
Wearing a traditional dark blue Malay dress and black cap, the 61-year-old politician was sworn in at a simple ceremony at Malaysia's Parliament House. | Wearing a traditional dark blue Malay dress and black cap, the 61-year-old politician was sworn in at a simple ceremony at Malaysia's Parliament House. |
Landslide | Landslide |
He was greeted with applause from the opposition benches, which were almost full, as he entered parliament's main chamber, reported the Reuters news agency. | He was greeted with applause from the opposition benches, which were almost full, as he entered parliament's main chamber, reported the Reuters news agency. |
Benches occupied by the governing Barisan Nasional coalition were less than half full. | Benches occupied by the governing Barisan Nasional coalition were less than half full. |
Mr Anwar, who heads the People's Justice Party, won a landslide victory in northern Penang state on Tuesday. | Mr Anwar, who heads the People's Justice Party, won a landslide victory in northern Penang state on Tuesday. |
Correspondents said he had been expected to win but the level of support for him was substantial. | Correspondents said he had been expected to win but the level of support for him was substantial. |
The high turnout saw him winning 31,195 of 47,000 votes, almost double the votes garnered by his opponent. | The high turnout saw him winning 31,195 of 47,000 votes, almost double the votes garnered by his opponent. |
He has been trying to make his political comeback since a ban on seeking public office, related to a previous corruption conviction, expired in April. | He has been trying to make his political comeback since a ban on seeking public office, related to a previous corruption conviction, expired in April. |
September deadline | September deadline |
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7580598.stm">Battle of the would-be leaders Mr Anwar has pledged to oust Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who has faced calls to quit since March elections which saw the opposition gaining ground. | |
He said that his deadline to secure enough defectors from the government to overthrown Mr Badawi by 16 September was still on. | He said that his deadline to secure enough defectors from the government to overthrown Mr Badawi by 16 September was still on. |
"The prime minister has lost the mandate of the country and the nation," he said. | "The prime minister has lost the mandate of the country and the nation," he said. |
The governing coalition currently holds 140 seats in the 222-seat parliament. Mr Anwar's coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, made up of three parties, holds 82 seats. | The governing coalition currently holds 140 seats in the 222-seat parliament. Mr Anwar's coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, made up of three parties, holds 82 seats. |
He needs to persuade 30 government MPs to defect. | He needs to persuade 30 government MPs to defect. |
But he faces fresh accusations of sodomy, which is a serious offence in predominantly Muslim Malaysia. | But he faces fresh accusations of sodomy, which is a serious offence in predominantly Muslim Malaysia. |
Previous charges of sodomy charges were overturned by a court in 2004 resulting in Mr Anwar's release from jail after serving six years imprisonment. | Previous charges of sodomy charges were overturned by a court in 2004 resulting in Mr Anwar's release from jail after serving six years imprisonment. |
He denies all the allegations, which he says are politically motivated. | He denies all the allegations, which he says are politically motivated. |