Anwar Ibrahim returns to Malaysian parliament with landslide win

(IANS)

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Tuesday ended a 10-year wait to return to Parliament with a landslide victory in a special by-election.

Anwar won a majority of the ballots cast by at least 13,000 voters against his opponent Arif Shah Omar Shah from the ruling National Front coalition, Election Commission officials ...

Tuesday's victory paved the way for Anwar to return to Parliament as the head of a three-party opposition alliance, grouping his own People's Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party and the hardline Parti Islam SeMalaysia.

Previously a sleepy town, the northern Permatang Pauh constituency captured the attention of the entire nation when Anwar announced his decision to contest the seat left vacant by his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, on July 31.

Anwar held the seat from 1982 to 1999 when he was forced to quit after being ousted from the government and put on trial for corruption and sodomy.

He was convicted and imprisoned on both charges, which he denied, but was freed after Malaysia's top court overturned the sodomy conviction in 2004.

Anwar and Wan Azizah cast their votes early Tuesday and began a gruelling day of meeting voters and supporters at the 28 polling stations in the constituency.

With police helicopters hovering overhead and banners and flags lining every street in town, voters came out in full force to cast their votes.

More than 6,000 police officers, including riot police, were deployed Tuesday throughout the town.

'We are not taking any chances with security,' a police officer said.

'If anyone breaks the law, we will not hesitate to take action to ensure the voting process is conducted peacefully,' he said.

Aside from small scuffles between supporters of both sides, there was no major violence reported.

But the heavy police presence, along with the throngs of supporters from both sides, caused massive traffic jams at all major polling centres.

'I've never seen this kind of attention before, this kind of crowd, even when the prime minister or his deputy came,' a local shopkeeper said.

After Anwar was fired, Wan Azizah represented the constituency from 1999 to 2008 before stepping down to make way for her husband to re-enter Parliament.

A former deputy prime minister, Anwar sees his imminent entry into Parliament as the next step in his effort to topple the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by mid-September.

In Malaysia's March election, Anwar led a three-party opposition alliance to major gains, capturing 82 out of 222 seats in Parliament and taking control of five of 13 states.

Anwar, 61, did not run in the March election because of a ban on holding political office, stemming from his previous corruption conviction. The ban lapsed in April.

His seemingly effortless rise in politics suffered a major setback when he faced yet another sodomy allegation in June, this time by a former male aide.

Anwar, who has slammed the accusations as politically motivated, was charged with sodomy, and a court fixed Sep 10 for his trial. He is currently out on bail.

The lurid sexual allegations have done little to tarnish his popularity and might have even strengthened support for Anwar.

'Nobody here believes he is guilty of sodomy,' voter and businessman Razali said. 'He was framed.

'Give Anwar a chance to rule this country,' he said after casting his vote. 'We're already in such a bad shape now.

Permatang Pauh, located in the opposition-ruled state of Penang, has almost 59,000 registered voters, out of which more than 60 percent are ethnic Malay, followed by ethnic Chinese and Indians.

The ethnic make-up of the constituency almost mirrors the breakdown of races nationwide, prompting analysts to say Anwar's impressive performance in the polls might give a rough idea of the support he might enjoy if he takes on the top post.

Anwar, a Muslim of ethnic Malay descent, has pledged to erase parochial politics, clamp down on rampant corruption and revive an ailing economy if voted into office.

Currently, Malaysian political parties are race-based with Abdullah's United Malays National Organization leading a coalition that also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian parties.

Before and After Permatang Pauh.One “bolloywood star” said Jihad, another guy whose only credential is as a VIP daughter’s husband said “We will bury Anwar and end his political career”. The same guy whom we believe was still in pampers when those whom he criticize were leading the nation. Anyway at least let us give some credit to TDM for accepting DSAI power support in PP in advance. Minus emotions and old age outburst, TDM logic is still among the best. Just too bad he failed to recognize DSAI ability.

While the moderate Malaysians were praying for DSAI to win I wanted that win for one person who sacrificed the most, Dato Seri Wan Azizah or simply Kak Wan.She held the fort together.

It is said nothing stops when simple people unite for the betterment of their nations. And to all the volunteers who sacrificed their comfort to ensure this win , on behalf of all moderate Malaysians , Terima Kasih. You are not forgotten during this moment of people glory in Malaysian Hitory.

BY ELECTION - RESULTWITH ALL THE ODDS AGAINST HIM, AND YET CAN HAVE SUCH MAJORITY. THIS IS NOT ANOTHER TSUNAMI, IT IS A DISASTER TO UMNO. BN - DO SOME CHANGES INTERNALLY, OTHERWISE WILL BE REPLACE ON THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION OR EVEN FASTER. STOP DREAMING, THIS IS A VERY LOUD AND CLEAR SIGNAL FROM THE RAYAT. ' SAD CASE FOR UMNO , AFTER MANY YEARS AND IN FACT HAS ESTABLISHED '. OLD WORDS SAID, GOOD COMPANY CAN GOES BURST WITHIN A YEAR IF THE C.

DSAI CONGRATULATIONS! DSAI CONGRATULATIONS! After the dirty allergations, painful experiences and struggled - finally you have what you should have years ago. Kami iringi dengan doa semoga dugaan ALLAH yang begitu besar terhadap anda menjadikan anda seorang pemimpin yang dapat menyatupadukan Rakyat pelbagai Bangsa dan Agama di Malaysia. Semoga Malaysia kembali terurus dan dihormati Dunia, InsyaAllah, Amin. Sekali lagi taniah kepada DSAI dan juga PAKATAN RAKYAT. SYABAS!

Untuk UMNO khusus konspirasi liwat! Berhentilah, Umur kita senantiasa dihitung sampai masa kita pergi ketika itu sudah terlambat untuk INSAF... Didalam dunia ini kita hanya mencari keredhaan ALLAH, Amin.

A win for justice and truthCongrats Anwar. Despite all the obstacles and hurdles desperately put against you, the majority you obtained was unbelievable.

I hope you will continue your fight against corruption, injustice and cruelty which this govt is all about.

The races have united and will remain united in your struggle.

As someone pointed out, if Gandhi could bring down the mighty British Empire with a pinch of salt, you could form the next govt as well.

We want Change!

Anwar yet to prove his worthSuch personlity cult and worshipping does not ensure Malaysia will be governed wisely.

The world does not care whether you are Anwar or Mahatir or Badawi. It cares whether you are innovative, forward-looking and fair.

Has Anwar done anything lately other than offer more bribes to others in order to form a larger political party? What’s the point of this, other than gaining more power as the next Prime Minister? And what does such action prove? That he is worthy of leading Malaysia? Is that all Malaysia can come up with, someone who is willing, and does, bribe his way to Prime Minstership? What values are these?

Good luck Malaysia.