Analysts say that although chances of an opposition victory are slim, the loose alliance between fundamentalist Pan-Islamic Party, Mr. Anwar's moderate People's Justice Party and Chinese-majority Democratic Action Party, may extend its 2008 electoral gains, when it deprived the 13-party ruling coalition of its traditional two-thirds majority in parliament.
So the main opposition challenge may be the internal one of holding together a coalition that includes the Islamist party PAS as well as ethnic Chinese and Indian parties and the urban liberals of Mr. Anwar's People's Justice Party.
But for twenty years before that, the Chinese-educated, foreign-trained architect was a stalwart of the nation's People's Action Party government led by its first PM Lee Kuan Yew.