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Anwar's party turns one, eyes opposition merger

KUALA LUMPUR: The political party of Malaysia's jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim turned one on Tuesday with plans to merge with another opposition group.

The 300,000-member Parti Keadilan Nasional planned to merge with Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), Anwar's wife and party president, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said.

"We are in negotiations with the party leaders now. There is no time frame as we have to flesh out various aspects," she told a news conference to mark Keadilan's first anniversary.

Wan Azizah said the merger with PRM, which claims to have 40,000 members, will strengthen Keadilan as it moves beyond the Anwar sacking issue.

"We are moving beyond Anwar now and we have to build on all the support we have," she said.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sacked Anwar in September 1998, accusing his then deputy of being morally unsuited to succeed him in power and of trying to topple his government.

Anwar's sacking led to wide anti-government protests and his supporters later took over a small Islamic party and renamed it Keadilan with Wan Azizah as leader.

Keadilan candidates contested 50 parliamentary seats in the 1999 general elections but won only five.

"We are a small party but we will continue to fight for justice," Wan Azizah said.

Anwar is serving a six-year prison sentence for corruption and is now facing sodomy charges.

"He is touched by the people's support and believes Keadilan has a future," Wan Azizah said. -Reuters