No Sept 16 power transfer: Malaysian PM

MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's bid to seize power will fail, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday, promising to thwart any attempts to topple his government.

Anwar, a former deputy premier and finance minister who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, has vowed to oust the ruling coalition by mid-September with the help of defecting lawmakers.

Abdullah said Anwar's three-member Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance was banking on members of the ruling party defecting but insisted that would not happen, according to the state Bernama news agency.

"We will not give them the opportunity to set up government on September 16," Abullah said.

Pakatan Rakyat gained unprecedented ground against the Barisan Nasional coalition in the March general election, securing a third of parliamentary seats and five states. To seize power, Anwar needs 30 defectors.

Abdullah is facing calls from within his ruling party to quit as his popularity plummets due to a steep rise in inflation and allegations of economic mismanagement.

He has promised to quit in mid-2010 and hand over to his deputy Najib Razak.

AFP