By Jalil Hamid
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's main opposition leaderAnwar Ibrahim remained holed up in the Turkish embassy onMonday, seeking refuge from sodomy accusations he says werecooked up by the government.
The sensational developments, almost a repeat of thecountry's worst political crisis 10 years ago, will furtherroil waters that have been muddied since elections on March 8dealt Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's National Front coalitionthe worst electoral drubbing in Malaysian history.
The key stock index fell 0.6 percent in early trading onthe news that can only add to an uncertain outlook that willlikely cloud policy-making.
"One thing for sure, Anwar will not fade away at firstinstance on this new charge and he won't go away quietly,"Informa Global Markets wrote in a note."And it may notnecessarily strengthen the government's position."
Anwar, 60, fled to the Turkish embassy in a Kuala Lumpursuburb 12 hours after the accusations surfaced saying he hadreceived death threats.
"He is still at the embassy," said Tian Chua, the spokesmanfor his People's Justice Party. "His lawyers are filing asummons in the court today over the police report made againsthim." He did not elaborate.
Anwar moved to the embassy at the invitation of the Turkishambassador. His aides said several embassies made similaroffers but Anwar chose Turkey because he is an economic adviserto the Turkish government.
INTERFERENCE
Turkey's move has enraged Kuala Lumpur. Foreign MinisterRais Yatim said he would summon the Turkish ambassador onMonday for what he said was interference in Malaysia's internalaffairs.
The developments come at a time of heightened political andfinancial uncertainties in Malaysia.
Anwar, who was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 inthe midst of the Asian financial crisis and later jailed forsodomy and corruption, has seen a revival of his fortunes sincethe opposition alliance's strong showing in the March election.
The alliance won control of five of Malaysia's 13 statesand denied the National Front coalition of its traditionaltwo-thirds majority.
Anwar maintains that he has lined up enough defections fromthe ruling coalition -- he needs 30 -- to bring down Abdullah'sgovernment and said he would do so in mid-September.
The father of six children said in a statement the chargeswere "completely fabricated" and politically motivated.
"I have been told that my assassination has not been ruledout as a means to subvert the people's will and bring an end tothe transformational changes taking place in Malaysia," headded in the statement.
Prime Minister Abdullah said on Sunday the government wasnot involved.
The new sodomy allegations arose late on Saturday afterAnwar's private assistant, identified by his party as23-year-old Saiful Bukhari Azlan, lodged a police complaint.
Federal criminal investigation chief Bakri Zinin said thealleged victim had been taken to hospital, but declined to givehis name.
Anwar's advisers said the man could be a "plant" by"certain personalities to make the vicious attack againstAnwar."
So far, there have been no major street protests. About 100of his supporters gathered outside the Turkish embassy onSunday, watched by a handful of riot police. They chanted"Reformasi", the movement's battle cry, and "down with theoppressive government".
Police have warned Anwar's supporters against holding anypublic protests. His sacking in 1998 brought tens of thousandsonto the streets.
