KELANA JAYA, SELANGOR - THOUSANDS of Malaysians yesterday staged a rally ostensibly against inflation, but the turnout was prompted just as much by bitter political bickering that has upset many.

The day-long event was capped by a fiery address by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim before a crowd of 15,000, calling for a debate with Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, over the government's decision to raise fuel prices by 41per cent last month.

But making sure that the issue before Malaysians was also about him, Datuk Seri Anwar said: 'Believe me, that which was alleged 10 years ago is now repeated with malice and slander, and I will not accept but fight it to the end.'

He was referring to a fresh allegation last week that he had sodomised his personal assistant. He maintained that his trial on the same charge ten years ago - and now - was a conspiracy aimed at quashing his political ambitions.

Mr Anwar, who has claimed that his opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat will take over the government soon, with defections from the ruling coalition by Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers, said last night: 'I vow that we will fight and struggle until (the opposition) Pakatan becomes the next government of Malaysia,' he said.

Cries of 'Reformasi', 'Hidup Rakyat' (or 'Long live the people') and 'Makkal Sakti' ('People Power') were heard as speeches by him and other opposition leaders were delivered.

Despite fears of a crackdown over the protest, security was light. 'Our aim is not to cause trouble but to get the message to the government that fuel prices must come down and we will not stop our protests until this happens,' organiser Hatta Ramli of the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes) and Islamist opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia said.

The protests will get worse 'until the government listens to the voice of the people to ease their burden and suffering'.

A minor scuffle broke out when the lead singer of a rock band performing on stage exposed his bottom in a political gesture - enraging the conservative crowd.

The hike on June5 caused much anger among ordinary Malaysians already struggling with higher prices of food and goods.

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi told Bernama he was perturbed by the protest. 'I also know that the people are becoming fed up with the political manoeuvres taking place currently,' he said, referring obliquely to the acrimonious trading of accusations between Mr Anwar and Mr Najib over the past week.

Mr Anwar's camp has accused Mr Najib of being behind the sodomy accusations and dropped a bombshell suggesting he had had a sexual relationship with a murdered Mongolian model.

So far, Mr Anwar seems to have emerged from the bickering stronger, with a poll showing that many believe him to be a victim of a political conspiracy.

But the biggest concern of ordinary Malaysians seemed to be just making ends meet. Housewife P. Kalaiselvi, 40, who came with her husband and four daughters, said: 'We would like the government to hear our problems and to help us but they are only helping themselves.'

hazlinh@sph.com.sg

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