PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday (16 Sept) that the oppositon Pakatan Rakyat has support of more than 31 lawmakers from the ruling coalition to form a new govenrment and has demanded that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hand over power in a smooth manner.

He said four demands had been issued to the PM in a letter sent Monday (15 Sept). The demands are that MPs are not stopped from defecting; the Internal Security Act not be used to detain defecting or PR MPs; a state of emergency should not be declared; and no roadblocks be set up to stop MPs from going to Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference at his party headquarters here he said the Pakatan Rakyat had the support of more than 31 Barisan Nasional MPs, the minimum required to form a simple majority in Parliament. But he declined to dislcose the names.

Abdullah had earlier in the day scoffed at Anwar's claims, calling it a mirage.

Anwar said the change of government would not take place Tuesday as he would be seeking a meeting with Abdullah and show the prime minister the list of BN lawmakers crossing over.

He said transition must go on smooth to prevent a repeat of incidents in Perak and Selangor, where he alleged documents were shredded following the opposition's surprise wins in the March elections.

He said he is very optimistic that the PM will meet them. Asked what he would do if Abdullah refused to meet him, he said PR leaders would then meet again to consider their options.

However, Anwar, who is the opposition leader, declined to say whether he would go directly to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present the list of MPs who are supporting him to form a government, should Abdullah refused to meet him.

"For now we will deal with the prime minister. He is the sitting prime minister and he has to be fully accountable." (MySinchew)