> Anwar: take-over definite

Anwar Ibrahim today slammed critics who have been fiercely questioning his credibility. After his widely publicised bid to take over the federal government did not happen on Sept 16, some have even claimed that the opposition leader had lied about having the right number of parliamentary defectors to take over Putrajaya.

"One should question their credibility, not mine," he said, lashing out at Barisan Nasional leaders and certain segments of the media for portraying him as a liar.

He said they should instead put his "bluff" to the test in Parliament " if they really think I am lying".

He also blamed out-going Primer Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of blocking a smooth transition of power from the government to the opposition block.

Anwar who is Pakatan Rakyat’s prime minister-designate said the opposition had exhausted every possible constitutional and conventional way to accomplish a "peaceful and orderly take-over of the federal government".

"We exhausted all peaceful ways to take over. One should ask Abdullah, not me, for his reasons of disallowing us to take over," the Permatang Pauh member of parliament said during his Hari Raya open house in his hometown of Cerok To’kun, in Bukit Mertajam, Penang today.

Acknowledging that many Malaysians were fast losing patience and wanted Pakatan to take over soon, especially in the face of current economic woes, Anwar promised that the take-over would happen and called on his supporters and Malaysians in general to be patient.

He claimed that it was important for Pakatan to take over Putrajaya since the current government was still in a state of denial over the country’s economic crisis, triggered by the global financial crisis.

Asked whether a Pakatan take-over would happen by the end of the year, he replied: "Why should we wait for so long? It will happen soon... very soon."

"Expect some fireworks on Monday," he cryptically added.

Pakatan takeover yet to happen

Originally, Anwar had claimed that Pakatan would take over the federal government on Sept 16.

Despite a lapse of nearly a month, the take-over has yet to happen, prompting BN leaders, certain segments of the media, political observers and bloggers to question his credibility.

Abdullah has steadfastly refused to meet and talk with Pakatan leaders on the power transition, saying "there was no need to talk to Anwar", despite an official request for a meeting by the opposition.

"Even though Pakatan has officially written a letter to Abdullah asking him to meet us, he has refused to do so.

"What’s wrong in meeting and talking to us?

"Talking does not mean agreeing with us on a power transfer," said Anwar.

The prime minister had also rejected Pakatan’s request to allow an emergency session of Parliament to debate a motion of no-confidence against him. Since then, Pakatan has been uncharacteristically silent on the take-over strategy - Malaysiakini.