Anwar Ibrahim said that his chances for freedom has diminished with the resounding victory secured by the Barisan Nasional in last month's general election.

He said that the win, a four-fifth majority for BN, can be seen as a decree for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to continue his (Anwar's) incarceration.

"It seems politically expedient for Abdullah Badawi to ensure that I remain incarcerated. I understand that he harbours some deep-seated animosity against me. His reference to my conviction by an independent judiciary is a blatant mockery of the truth," said the jailed ex-deputy premier.

"It is a well-documented fact, affirmed by international legal and human rights organisations that the entire series of trials were flawed and a gross travesty of justice. His statement therefore betrays a self-serving hypocrisy, which is going to be a hallmark of his career as PM."

Anwar said this when replying to a series of questions posed by Reuters, an international news agency. His statement was made available to the local media through one of his lawyers.

Still an issue

As to BN's allegation that he no longer poses a threat to the ruling government, Anwar said that the claim had been negated by the party's conduct itself.

"If I were no longer an issue or a threat, why is there a need to emasculate the judiciary and make a simple process of bail application take almost a year to be heard; only to be arbitrarily rejected?" he asked.

"If I'm that irrelevant, why is the need for the BN leaders to harp on the theme that I'm no longer relevant? Is this the case of whistling in the dark?"

Commenting on the elections, Anwar said that result was a severe blow to the institutions of civil society as the BN government had retained power through a flawed election process.

He said that the election was clearly an outright fraud planned by the BN, and assisted by the Election Commission (EC) and the National Registration Department (NRD).

"Many of the constituencies had near impossible voter turnout of 90 percent. The BN had planned the numbers game in concert with the EC and NRD as well as their political machinery on the ground," he said.

"Add this to the delineation of political boundaries (gerrymandering)... the opposition was fighting against virtually insurmountable odds."

Stay united call

He however reminded all opposition parties not to be weakened by the dismal election results.

"The opposition must forge a united front with a clear agenda in the fight for democracy and keep alive the flame of liberty, justice and the rule of law, in the context of a modern and vibrant multi-faceted Malaysian society, where every voice should count," he said.

As to former leading opposition party PAS' poor election performance, Anwar said that the Islam-based party could have done more to fight the negative perception instilled against it by BN-controlled media.

"PAS must take account of the fact that they have not done enough to banish this kind of negative perception. The impression given was that they were obsessed with the setting up of an Islamic State and the implementation of hudud laws," he said.

"No doubt the insidious and incessant BN propaganda machinery intensified this. And every effort by PAS to project its humane, democratic and justice-based world view and policies was and is systematically suppressed."

Anwar also negated the view that the election results had rendered Parti Keadilan Rakyat - led by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail - irrelevant.

He said that Keadilan is much needed in the country as it stands for freedom, justice and fairness which is everything that is lacking in the BN government.

"The evils of racism and corruption have no place at all in the Keadilan agenda. This is what makes Keadilan so dangerous as an idea, a reality. This is why every dirty trick in the book was used against Keadilan," he said.

"BN sets outs to undermine all that Keadilan stands for not only to contain the threat that the latter posed against the former but to also seek vindication for all the injustice perpetrated against him as a political prisoner.

Keadilan's true role

Anwar, who is also Keadilan advisor, said that the party will never abandon its struggle and will strive hard to expose the fraud perpetrated by the BN.

"The BN, true to its innate viciousness of soul, will revert in the very near future to its accustomed tyrannical, oppressive and corrupt manner of governing this country. It is then that Malaysians will realize that they have been hoodwinked into believing that Abdullah will be the overnight cure for all that ails Malaysia as a result of decades of Mahathir misrule," he said.

"It is then that Keadilan would be able to play its true role together with other opposition parties and proponents of civil society to bring about total Reformation of the corrupt system."

Anwar also said it is wrong for anyone to perceive that the recent election results was a "victory" for the moderate Islam image promoted by Pak Lah.

"This perception is absolutely misconceived, because it is tantamount to saying that those who did not vote for the BN, are anti-democracy and pro-Taliban. Notwithstanding the fraud perpetrated, nearly half of the population voted against the BN," he said.

"It is preposterous and demeaning to use the moderate Islam label as a mask and shield in order to hide their misdeeds and perpetrate their hold on power; silence the opposition, and to go on with their corrupt and authoritarian ways," Anwar added.