By Reme Ahmad , ASSISTANT FOREIGN EDITOR

PERMATANG PAUH AND IPOH - ONCE Anwar Ibrahim wins the Penang by-election on Aug 26, he is expected to reel more than 40 government MPs into the opposition coalition within weeks, sources close to the three-party alliance suggest.

The Straits Times learnt that the 40-plus ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who are ready to jump ship include 'several federal ministers'.

They also include MPs from Umno, the Malaysian Chinese Association and Parti Gerakan, a source said.

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Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.