Anwar Ibrahim makes first parliamentary speech in ten years

13/10/2008 22:14:03

Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has made his first speech to the country's parliament in more than ten years.

Our south-east Asia correspondent, Karen Percy, reports this time Mr Anwar is on the opposition benches.

During his first speech as head of the opposition People's Alliance, Mr Anwar criticised the budget put forward by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

He has returned to the national parliament after winning back his old seat in the northern state of Penang, in August.

Mr Anwar used to be a member of the government until a decade ago, when he was sacked by then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamed and jailed for corruption and sodomy.

The sodomy charges were later overturned, but he now faces fresh allegations which he says are politically motivated.

Mr Anwar's success in strengthening the opposition over the past six months has put the government on the backfoot.

Last week the Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, gave in to internal pressure and agreed to step down in March of next year.

Mr Anwar says he has managed to convince enough government members of parliament to defect, but as yet there's been no movement.

Produced by Radio Australia and Australia Network