PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim today challenged the authorities to reopen their investigations on him over allegations that he had RM3 billion in several master accounts.

If they want, Anwar said, they should also set-up an independent commission to find out the truth of the old allegation.

NONEHowever, he added, similar investigations must be started against several Umno leaders, including Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said that he was ready to be investigated as he had not done anything wrong.

He was responding to Khairy who earlier this week had urged the police to restart investigations into the 'billions in accounts' allegations.

"He is just making untruthful allegations since that time. If he wants he can ask the authorities to investigate me.

"But I urge that it should not only incorporate me but also himself, Abdullah and other past and present Umno leaders to also show whether they are clean," said the opposition leader on his first ceramah visit to Bagan Pinang.

"The authorities should form an independent commission to investigate all these allegations not only on me but also on Khairy and others to show how many millions of ringgit they had amassed," he added.

Anwar said the allegations thrown against him by Umno leaders were nothing new as they have been doing it for 11 years now.

Talking to reporters after campaigning at the Sua Betong estate in Bagan Pinang today, Anwar said the issue raised by Khairy was old.

"I have been cleared by the ACA as they had interviewed me while in the Sungai Buloh prison in 1998. I have also made an open statement asking for an independent commission to be formed to investigate the matter," he said.

Earlier this week, Khairy had urged the police to look into allegations which was first made in a statutory declaration by former Bank Negara assistant governor Abdul Murad Khalid in 1999. The bank officer had later retracted the allegations.

Anwar woos Indian voters

After his ceramah whistle-stop at the Sua Betong estate, Anwar, when asked by reporters on the chances of PAS candidate Zulkefly Mohamad Omar in winning the by-election on Sunday, said there was still a chance of a victory.

"Presently, I am satisfied with the Indian, Chinese and Malay communities as they seemed to have a change of heart," he said.

Anwar also urged the residents at the estate to vote for change as many countries had resorted to changes and Malaysia should also follow suit.

"I come here to seek your co-operation to show the federal government, (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak and his cabinet ministers that the Indian community can think on their own and change," he told a crowd of about 200 people, mostly outsiders.

Anwar will be giving several talks with DAP and PAS leaders later tonight and also tomorrow night as he hopes to wrap up the seat for the opposition.

He is also expected to receive 300 forms from former Umno and Gerakan members who want to join PKR.

Meanwhile, Umno and Barisan Nasional candidate Isa Samad received 125 forms from former PKR members to join Umno.

This included former PKR committee member Shahruddin Abdul Hamid, who initially wanted to contest in Bagan Pinang as an independent candidate.