Malaysian ruling party women declare 'jihad' against Anwar

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (AFP): The women's wing of Malaysia's ruling party has reportedly declared a "jihad" or holy war to prevent opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim returning to parliament in a by-election this month. "It is a jihad because this individual should not be given the chance to destroy the country's political stability and prosperity," women's wing deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said according to The Star newspaper.

Shahrizat, a former cabinet minister, lost her seat in parliament to Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah in landmark March elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains against the ruling coalition.

"If we allow him to lead the country, he would lead us to destruction," she said as she launched the women's wing campaign for the August 26 by-election in Anwar's home state of Penang.