Women to wage jihad against Anwar in Malaysia

Malaysian ruling party’s women’s wing has declared ‘jihad’ against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is facing sodomy charges.

Malaysian ruling party’s women’s wing has declared a “jihad” or holy war against prominent opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, currently battling sodomy charges, asking supporters to prevent him from winning a forthcoming parliamentary by-election.

“The wing views the by-election as a critical election not just for ruling Barisan Nasional coaltion party but also for the whole country and its people,” said United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) women’s wing deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil according to Star newspaper on Tuesday.

“It is a jihad because this individual should not be given the chance to destroy the country’s political stability and prosperity,” she added.

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The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) leads the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and represents the interests of Muslim Malays who are the majority in Malaysia, alongside ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Jalil said the women’s movement would act as a bastion to stop an “ambitious individual from achieving his dream and personal glory”.

Shahrizat was defeated in the March 8 general elections this year when her Pantai Dalam parliamentary seat was won by Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter Nurul Izza.

Ibrahim, is currently facing fresh sodomy charges levelled by his aide and has been released on bail is trying to get into the parliament formally through a by-election slated for later this month by winning the Permatung Puah parliamentary seat vacated by his wife, Dr Wan Aziza.

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Nomination for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election will be held August 16 with polling on August 26 in the event of a contest.