Come what may next Tuesday, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim wants his supporters and Pakatan Rakyat to know that the show must go on, with or without him.

At what is likely to be his last press conference before the Federal Court judgment on his appeal for the Sodomy II conviction, Anwar said today that no one was "indispensable" in politics.

He said that what is more important was for the public to view Pakatan as a movement - a coalition of parties based on established principles.

"If that is accepted, then the issue of who continues to become leader of Pakatan can be resolved amicably," he said.

The Permatang Pauh MP said it was important to assume the best and not assume based on the "machinations of those in power".

"This is a criminal trial, they must adjudicate based on law and not on politics.

"Based on that, the show has to move on, I will remain (as opposition leader), insyaallah (god willing)," said Anwar, after the launching ceremony of PKR senator Syed Husin Ali's book 'Ethnic Relations in Malaysia: Harmony and Conflict'.

When asked later if he will continue as a politician should he get imprisoned, Anwar was adamant that he is “not guilty”.

“I am not guilty, why should I be punished over something that I did not do?

“Questions on the future of my political career if I get imprisoned, such questions mean that the cruel (zalim) can determine your political career.

“I will continue to fight, whether from within or outside of prison,” he said.

‘We have asked to view private member’s bill’

Meanwhile, when asked to comment about Kelantan’s plan to table a private member’s bill on hudud in March, Anwar confirms that they had asked the PAS central leadership as well as the Kelantan state government to view the bill.

As such, the coalition’s leadership council this Sunday would be the best platform for PAS to explain the matter further.

“The best time for them to explain would be at the meeting (this Sunday).

Anwar also admitted that both PAS and DAP had their own respective positions over the matter.

“We cannot deny PAS’ right to table the bill nor DAP’s position against it. But at this point, we don’t know what is to be presented and what is being opposed... We need to study this first,” he said.

Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah was yesterday reported as saying that the state government plans to table a private member's bill in Parliament in March to seek approval for amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 to enable hudud to be implemented in the state.

PAS and DAP’s spats over the matter are not a secret, with both parties at loggerheads over the hudud issue.