Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has denied that the furor over the PKR polls - which featured allegations of irregularities and malpractices - would have a ripple effect even if the next general election is called soon.

It will not bolster the enemies’ tirade, said the Permatang Pauh MP, as the party has done everything possible to rectify the flaws in the system and clarified the claims.  

“We do not hide. If there is a report that the election officers were half-an-hour late, we accept it. We either sack him or... add on voting time. I’m sure this is not the only issue,” he said.

Everything he does, however, seems to have been turned into an issue by the ruling BN.  

NONE “When I went to Australia it was also an issue. Hillary (Clinton) called me, and it was also an issue. Kevin Rudd is an issue.

"But no problem. I think they (BN) are just using as many issues as they can,” the PKR de facto leader told a press conference at his office in Parliament after holding a Pakatan Rakyat council meeting.

'What's six months?'

Anwar ( right ) stressed that veteran leaders like DAP's Lim Kit Siang, PAS vice-president Mustafa Ali and PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali are well aware of the negative perceptions and are able to manage the backlash.

“It was the same before the 2008 elections: they condemned PAS, DAP and PKR.

"But I think the people can’t be so easily fooled. The Malay media block the minds of the Malay community from thinking. Chinese and English media give more space,” said Anwar.

Asked regarding rumours that he would be suspended as MP for linking international public relations firm Apco Worldwide to the ‘1Malaysia’ tagline and that of ‘One Israel’, Anwar said: “They imprisoned me for six years, what is a six-month suspension? I have gone through worse.

"They had assaulted me, stripped me naked and put me in solitary confinement and I was imprisoned for six years.”

The coalition, he added, is gearing up for its second national convention on Dec 19.

Also at the press conference was PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who said the convention will aim at preparing Pakatan to face the general election.

“We are going to plan the means to strengthen Pakatan as an alternative to the government... We will continue the effort to uphold the people’s issues,” he said.

Bahasa Malaysia 'insulted'

On another matter, Anwar said the Federal Court's judgement against him earlier today had insulted the position of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language following its ruling that judgements written in English were valid.

He said that there are deep consequences to the decision as it went against Article 152 of the federal constitution, which states that the Malay language is the official language.

“The court, I feel, made a decision that would have far-reaching implications. This is the first time since Bahasa Malaysia was christened as the national language that the Federal Court has allowed such an extremely loose interpretation on the use of the language,” he said.

Anwar stressed that Pakatan was not belittling the importance of the English language or saying it should not be used by the courts, but such a “loose interpretation” had insulted the status of Bahasa Malaysia.

“If you study the court's decision today, it validated all judgements made in English and infringed the spirit of the constitution and the laws of the nation,” he said.