He repeated his previous threats of toppling the current government by getting lawmakers from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to join the opposition.

Dressed in his trademark blue batik shirt, Datuk Seri Anwar travelled to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN)-held states of Malacca, Pahang and Johor to build support and momentum after last week's turn of events, which saw him spending a night in jail.

'The government knows that if not for these sodomy allegations, I would be on my way into Parliament by now,' Mr Anwar told a crowd of more than 5,000 conservative Muslim supporters in Jasin, a village near the tourist town of Malacca, last Friday.

'I tell you now that I will be contesting in a by-election,' he told the crowd, to yells of 'Allahu akbar' or 'God is great'.

Online news site malaysiakini.com has reported that Mr Anwar is eyeing the Kedah seat of Kulim- Bandar Baharu, where there is likely to be a by-election.

The incumbent there faces charges of failing to submit his statement of expenditure from his 2004 general election campaign - something that could cost him his seat.

Mr Anwar was in Pahang on Saturday and Umno's stronghold of Johor yesterday.

A return to Parliament would be the next step in the political rehabilitation of Mr Anwar, who was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges. The sodomy conviction was later overturned.

Mr Anwar's latest sodomy charge, which he says has been fabricated by the government, has been a distraction from his plan to form a new administration with the help of defecting coalition lawmakers.

But he told the crowds on his post-arrest roadshow that he was making progress nevertheless.

'I will shortly be ready to announce four BN MPs who will join the Pakatan Rakyat. It will happen very soon,' he said, but did not give a date.

Mr Anwar had previously named Sept 16 as the date when the opposition will be able to take over Malaysia's government.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE