Malaysia's Anwar calls for patience in power bid

By Jalil Hamid and Soo Ai Peng

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday appeared to backtrack on claims that he was poised to win power, saying he would "proceed cautiously" in his bid to unseat the government.

Anwar has said repeatedly he had won over enough defectors from the government to form a new administration. But a self-imposed deadline of Sept. 16 passed and his calls to recall parliament for a confidence vote were denied.

"I appeal to my Malaysian citizens, and particularly those who want to see a change, to understand, to be a bit more patient," he said after appearing in court on what he says are trumped up sodomy charges aimed at derailing his bid for power.

Anwar did not set a new date and also denied that officials from his party had held talks with the government, contradicting a statement made by his spokesman on Tuesday.

Anwar's claims to have enough MPs to take over have been mocked by the government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years as a "mirage" and the press has started to question whether he can indeed deliver.

The 61-year old opposition leader again challenged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to meet him and to hold a confidence vote when parliament returns from recess on Oct. 13.

He said he had written to the country's king, who has the power to ask for a confidence vote.

"The point is if they really believe I am a liar, put it to a test in the proper constitutional and legal framework. Put it to the test in a vote taken in parliament," he told reporters after his hearing.