Malaysia's Anwar to run in party polls, defy ban

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Reuters) Malaysia's opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim will press ahead with his plan to run for the party presidency, an official said, despite a state authority's decision to uphold a five-year ban on holding of public or party office.

Anwar, seeking a return to active politics after nearly 10 years in political wilderness, is one of three candidates vying for the presidency of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

But today the Registrar of Societies rejected his bid to run in the polls, upholding the ban that was imposed in 2003 following his conviction for corruption. The ban runs until April 2008.

''Keadilan strongly condemns the move by ROS as a deliberate ploy to prevent the reemergence of Anwar into active political leadership,'' information chief Tian Chua said. ''He has expressed his intention to go ahead with the elections tomorrow.'' Anwar has since appealed to the Home Minister, who has the right to grant a waiver, against the decision, Chua said.

The current party chief is Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also standing for presidency, largely as a precautionary move in case authorities disqualify Anwar.

Anwar, a former deputy premier, was charged with both corruption and sodomy in 1998, days after he fell out with his boss, Mahathir Mohamad.

He called for political reforms and led a campaign of protest that culminated in a popular ''Reformasi'' movement.

Malaysian law bans criminals from holding public office for five years after their release from jail. Anwar had effectively served his corruption sentence in April 2003, but remained in jail until acquitted of sodomy in 2004.

REUTERS SV BD1814