Malaysia's Anwar to run for party president despite ban

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim will run for president of his party despite being banned from holding public office, party officials said on Sunday.

Keadilan, or the opposition People's Justice Party, is formally run by his wife and its only sitting parliamentary member, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

"The party has nominated him to contest for the next president's post. He has accepted that he will run and if he is elected in May, then will lead the party," said Tian Chua, information chief of the party.

He said Anwar's decision to run for party president signaled his commitment to the opposition, dispelling rumours that he may return to the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

"We feel it is time that he can reposition himself officially as the leader for Keadilan and dismiss a lot of uncertainties that he is just waiting for an opportunity to return to UMNO," Tian said.

Anwar was a celebrated deputy premier and heir-apparent to former leader Mahathir Mohamad until 1998, when he was sacked after facing sodomy and corruption charges that landed him in jail for six years.

Anwar's sodomy conviction has been overturned but the corruption conviction still stands, barring him from standing for public office until April 2008.

National elections must be held by early 2009, but there is speculation that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will call for an early election, effectively preventing Anwar from taking part.