The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Kuala Terengganu

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday renewed his vow to seize power from the ruling coalition, as the two sides lock horns for a key by-election.

Anwar has laid low since failing to meet a self-imposed September 2008 deadline to unseat the Barisan Nasional government, after general elections that saw the coalition handed its worst results in half a century. The opposition alliance is now hoping to reinvigorate itself with a win in the January 17 by-election in northeastern Terengganu state, which is seen as a referendum on the political mood since the March 2008 national polls. "I want to say that we in the alliance are determined to topple the Barisan Nasional coalition," Anwar said at an opposition rally here late Tuesday that drew some 10,000 supporters. "For a start, I will help our alliance candidate from PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) obtain a big victory," he said on the seafront of the state capital Kuala Terengganu. Top figures in the alliance-Anwar's Keadilan as well as the Islamic party PAS and the Democratic Action Party that represents ethnic Chinese-stood shoulder-to-shoulder to dispel signs the partnership is under strain.