Malaysia's ousted deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim warned yesterday that a national reform movement was fast brewing and vowed to campaign across the country in a direct challenge to his rivals.
'People are getting sick and tired of the manner in which we've been repressed,' he said as he waited for what he claims will be imminent arrest over sexual misconduct and treason allegations.
'The reformation has begun. I can sense it . . . It is something that is quite spontaneous.' Mr Anwar's comments came as Malaysians poured over newspapers detailing court affidavits describing him as a rampant bisexual and adulterer who begged for sex - claims linked to his sacking from his joint role as Finance Minister and also his expulsion from the ruling UMNO party on Thursday.
Mr Anwar continued to deny the claims, insisting they were part of a political conspiracy cooked-up in a new atmosphere of 'paranoia' among leaders nervous after the downfall of President Suharto in neighbouring Indonesia. The sackings followed reported disagreements between Mr Anwar and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over the currency controls he instituted this week.
Tensions between Mr Anwar and his former mentor, Dr Mahathir, came to a head at a party meeting in June when a supporter raised the issue of nepotism and corruption.
Mr Anwar struck a defiant tone as he spoke to an estimated 2,000 supporters massed in a neighbourhood mosque for prayers in a thinly-veiled attack on Dr Mahathir's 17-year rule.
