More than 40 percent of respondents to a survey in PAS' official organ, Harakah Online, were unsure whether former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim will lead the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition after he was freed by the Federal Court early this month.

Though not all of the respondents - totalling 8,918 as of 6pm on Sept 20 - are members of PAS, at least a portion of them can safely be assumed to be supporters of the Muslim-based party.

As such, the results of the survey indirectly indicates that there exists amongst the members and supporters of PAS a group which was still unsure if Anwar will return from his spinal surgery in Munich to take the lead in both BA and the country's disparate opposition.

This is on top of intense speculation that Anwar may return to the folds of his former party, Umno, even though both Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - who is Umno leader - and Anwar have dismissed such a move.

Although 57.20 percent (or 5,101) of the respondents thought that Anwar will return to become BA/opposition's stalwart, 42 percent (or 3,817) picked other political options.

In the online survey entitled 'Ke manakah Anwar selepas ini?" (Where will Anwar go after this?), respondents are offered five options - (1) return to lead Umno, (2) become BA and opposition stalwart, (3) merge BA and BN, (4) become stalwart of Malay unification, and (5) other options.

A total of 1,303 respondents believed that Anwar will return to Umno's fold. Another 1,568 (17.58 percent) respondents believed that Anwar will become the stalwart of Malay unification.

And 388 (4.35 percent) respondents thought Anwar will opt for other political paths.

Fresh statement

On Sept 2, the Federal Court freed Anwar after finding him not guilty of the sodomy charge. However, the court has subsequently maintained the verdict and sentence against him for the corrupt practices.

That means that Anwar is barred by law from active politics for a period of five years from the date he finished his jail term for the corruption charge last year.

Speculation over the possibility of Anwar returning to Umno has become intense after he was freed, and this included talks of a secret deal between him and Abdullah.

The Umno supreme council last week made the surprising move to bar Anwar from returning to the party which expelled him six years ago.

Anwar has earlier said he had no intention of returning to Umno. He is currently undergoing follow-up treatment after an operation on his spine in Germany.

In yet another statement made on Sunday, Anwar said that he had never applied to rejoin Umno or given any indication of having an interest to do so.

According to him, the issue of whether he will rejoin Umno was raised by 'several Umno leaders' who were 'uneasy and scared' after his release from prison.