Pakatan Rakyat's plan to topple the government may not materialise any time soon as Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has refused to state a new deadline after failing to seize power on Sept 16.
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"(It is) not an issue of deadlines now," he said, pinning the blame on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"The deadline was Sept 16 - Sept 16 was the date we were ready and we have made it very clear (but) who could anticipate that the prime minister would refuse to discuss (matters) of national importance - who could anticipate (that the) prime minister would refuse calling an emergency (parliament) session when we claim we have the majority," he added.

Speaking to reporters outside the Jalan Duta court complex in Kuala Lumpur today, Anwar said the opposition is trying to achieve their means smoothly without any problems.

"Our problem in the Pakatan Rakyat is, when we wrote to the prime minister proposing this (motion of no confidence) the prime minister rejected it without even undertaking that a motion will be tabled or allowed to be tabled," he added.

The opposition stalwart also commented that in any other democratic institution, the prime minister would immediately respond to a call for non-confidence vote.

Be patient

"In this country it does not happen because there is a blatant disregard for democratic values and democratic principals," he said.

"You have to remember that this is a difficult process - power transition - and for Umno and Barisan Nasional, this is subject that scares them.

"So I figured that it is only fair for us to tone down our statements on our strengths and give confidence that our attempt is fair (and) not done for the sake of revenge…" he said.

"I appeal to all Malaysian citizens particularly those who want to see a change, to understand this and be patient because we do not want to transgress the constitutional rules and procedures.

"It takes a lot of patience and a lot of resolve to try and unravel this complex web controlled by a few cronies," he added.

Letter to King

Meanwhile, Anwar also denied that Pakatan had written to the King to seek an audience with him and noted that it would be the last option.

"We feel we want the process to be done (when) we exhaust all available avenues including the possibility of meeting the prime minister," he said.

Anwar added that the letter addressed to the King was for the purpose of informing him about Pakatan's progress in initiating a new government.

"We have written on two issues; one to inform as responsible citizens (that) we would want the issue of transfer to be discussed with the prime minster which has been denied… rejected.

"The second issue (in the letter to the king) is to suggest an emergency session of parliament yesterday (Sept 23) and clearly there was no official response except (a) statement from the prime minister that he does not intend to proceed with the emergency session," said Anwar.

Asked what will be the next course of action if these avenues fail, he said: "We will continue to demand so that the prime minister respects the liberty of the people who voted for us".

"We are still in stages of demanding for a meeting," he added.

Responding to claims of being a liar, Anwar challenged Abdullah to put him through a test.

"Well they have called me a lot of things before (but) the point is, if they really believe I am a liar then put me to (a no-confidence) test and have a vote taken.

"There is no point of demonising me through the local media", he said.