Anwar: Malaysia still needs a change of government

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphatically reiterated his stand that there must be a change of government for Malaysia to progress.

He noted that a change of leadership in Umno would have no effect.

"The problem is the system," he told reporters at the lobby of the Jalan Duta court complex when commenting on yesterday's Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting in which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced his decision not to defend his presidency in the upcoming Umno elections.

It has been the norm for the leader of Umno to hold the position of prime minister. Abdullah's decision not to contest means he will be stepping down also as prime minister, paving the way for the next elected president to take over if BN remains in power.

Abdullah pledged to complete his promised reforms before leaving office next March.

Anwar was sceptical, however, of the outgoing prime minister, and expressed doubts that he would be able to fulfil in the next five months what he failed to do in the past five years.

"Are we expected to believe that he can?" he asked.

"If he does, well and good; good for him and good for the country," he quipped.

Asked if he thought Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is tipped to take over the reins, would be able to effect positive change in the government's policies on issues such as the independence of the judiciary and economic management, he answered in the negative.

"With Najib... the answer is categorically no," he emphasised.

"Change must happen. A change in the leadership of the BN will have no effect," he added.

Anwar was in court today for a hearing on the Sodomy II charge.

-TMI