Wife of Malaysia’s Jailed No. 2 Leader Starts New Party, Seeks to Oust Premier

The wife of Malaysia’s jailed former No. 2 leader launched a political party Sunday, calling on the opposition to unite to topple Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The wife of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and a roster of the country’s top political activists joined forces in launching the National Justice Party.

“Political parties and nongovernmental organizations must work together and set aside their differences in order to free Malaysia from the continuing stranglehold of crisis and oppression,” Azizah told more than 2,000 supporters, opposition politicians and journalists.

Supporters demonstrated outside the downtown hotel where Azizah was speaking, chanting and waving flags with Azizah’s new party symbol, a blue and white eye.

Azizah said the symbol represents the black eye Anwar received at the hands of Malaysia’s police on the night of his arrest.

After Anwar was fired and arrested in September, he said his wife would continue his campaign to reform politics in Malaysia.

Anwar, 51, faces 10 counts of corruption and sodomy. A High Court judge is to deliver the verdict on four charges April 14.

A general election is not scheduled until April 2000, but many expect it to be held this year.

Meanwhile, the state news service reported that Prime Minister Mahathir was being treated for a lung infection.

Mahathir, 73, was admitted to the country’s National Heart Institute on Friday and is in stable condition, the Bernama news agency said. He is expected to remain at the institute for a few more days, the agency reported.

The prime minister has ruled Malaysia for 18 years and has been in power longer than any other current leader in Asia. He returned Wednesday from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, after completing the traditional Islamic pilgrimage.