(June 23): From prison, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said people should be assured that the opposition was still functioning and remains robust at both state and parliament levels.

In his Ramadan message issued through his lawyers, the former opposition leader said despite recent events which have seen the end of formal cooperation between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties, the opposition was pushing forward with its struggle to "save Malaysia from Barisan Nasional's poor governance and authoritarianism".

He also said that it was not unusual for straining of ties to happen in an open and democratic political coalition like PR, and expressed confidence that these issues could be resolved.

"I have no doubt that the opposition, reorganised with new forces including NGOs, will emerge united and stronger from these troubles," he said.

Anwar, who serving a five-year jail term for sodomy, also urged Malaysians to press on with the struggle until victory was achieved and the nation saved.

"I assure you, that I will never give up this struggle as long as there remains breath in this body," he added.

DAP and PKR officially announced recently that the PR coalition had ceased to exist, as there was no longer collaboration between DAP and PAS.

This followed PAS's motion to cut ties with the DAP at its annual general assembly in Kuala Selangor earlier this month and DAP’s demand that PAS members vacate their government posts in the Penang government.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, however, said that despite PR's death, the same "spirit" of cooperation continued to exist in the coalition governments of Penang and Selangor, both of which have politicians from DAP, PKR and PAS. – The Malaysian Insider