Malaysia's Anwar heads for parliament after election victory

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim won a landslide victory Tuesday in a by-election to return him to parliament, and said he was on track to oust a weakened government.

The vote in his home state of Penang cemented a stunning comeback for Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier a decade ago and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated.

"I thank God who has been with me through this gruelling election process. I thank the voters," Anwar said as he arrived at the counting centre where some 30,000 supporters were holding a wild celebration.

"The message is clear... we have made a demand for change, for freedom and for justice," he said. "The people do not want to be exploited. We want...