Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim believes that the next general election will be held before April 2008. The reason?

Because after April 2008, his five-year ban from active politics will expire, enabling him to contest for a seat.

"People ask when is the next election. I don't know but I believe it won't be long - before April 2008. Because in April 2008, I can contest," he told some 100 party leaders at a 'buka puasa' function at his residence in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, last night.

The ban was imposed following Anwar's conviction for corruption and sodomy. The Federal Court overturned his sodomy conviction in 2004, after he spent six years in prison.

Meanwhile, the former deputy premier also urged PKR members to continue with the 'struggle' and not be complacent.

"Don't get angry with (Prime Minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He's a bit gentle, Just don't vote (for him)," he said, drawing laughter from those present.

Yesterday, Abdullah said he will not call for a snap election after he postponed the Umno party polls until after the next general election. However, speculations are rife that voters will be making a beeline for the ballot boxes much sooner than 2009.

Old mindset

Anwar also took the opportunity to chatise PKR members.

"They (PKR members) are trapped in the old mindset. Day in and day out they see the television and see the prime minister and deputy prime minister, like there are no others," Anwar said.

"I still hear questions on whether we are in negotiations with Umno or not. They (PKR members) say it looks like if you are going to be prime minister, you need to be in Umno," he said, revealing his frustration.

Anwar also focussed on Islam Hadhari mooted by the prime minister which stresses on the importance of modernisation based on Islamic values.

"What is the point of amending new laws, when our morality stinks. What is the point of discussing developmental issues, when we set aside the question of justice.

"What is the meaning of embracing modernity when corruption is rampant. I don't reject Hadhari in its principle, but the practice runs contrary to what is being preached," he said.

Despite having Islam Hadhari, Anwar said the elections in Malaysia are still far from being fair.

The former deputy premier also took a swipe at the New Economic Policy (NEP), which he claimed served to only enrich a few.

"Although it has successes in social mobility, in education and so forth, we know that unfairness is prevalent. The NEP is to raise a few crony families while the rest are left behind and marginalised.

"Those marginalised include many Malays, the Chinese and Indians at the bottom ... in a country like Malaysia, after 50 years (of independence), the Chinese and Indians still feel like second-class citizens," he said.

'New tyranny'

Anwar also spoke about what he termed as the 'new tyranny' perpetuated by the younger generation.

"It is important that we do not accept the new tyranny. We should not allow the younger generation with PhDs, masters or MBAs from prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge (to do this).

"My son-in-law is also (a graduate) from Cambridge. I am not talking about other people's son-in-laws," he quipped in reference to Abdullah's 31-year-old son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is an Oxford graduate.

"With such great education, liberal openness, they return and coalesce with those who are corrupt and get involved in immoral activities," he said.

Although Abdullah has denied this, critics claimed that Khairy - who is also the Umno Youth deputy chief - influences the premier's decisions. Some have gone to the extent of calling him the country's de facto prime minister.

As for Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's remark about the Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia being marginalised, Anwar said he does not see it as a matter of the "Chinese defending the Chinese and the Malays holding up."

"There are more Malays betraying the Malays than the Chinese doing so," he said.

"I see that (Lee's) statement as a racial one. He wants to defend the Chinese. This is the true of Lee Kuan Yew, he is the leader of the Chinese. Not the statesman of Singapore.

"He does not care for the Indians who are suffering, in Malaysia and Singapore. He does not care for the Malays who are poor and marginalised. Statistics from Indonesia show that there are 40 million of them. Lee Kuan Yew does not care.

"Those who support him follow racial sentiments (and) those who oppose him also follow racial sentiments, not the sentiments of justice," he lamented.