A statement from Malaysian police said prosecutors had decided to charge Anwar with “carnal intercourse against the course of nature”.

The move will potentially derail Datuk Seri Anwar’s plans to return to parliament and to oust the government through MP defections.

The former deputy prime minister has consistently denied allegations he had sex with a male aide, saying the accusation was aimed at derailing his political comeback.

HOLLAND: The constituency of Permatang Pauh, an industrial area in northern Penang state is the scene of a political battle. The community is divided. It’s difficult to find anyone who will share their political leanings in an area where conflicting views of such a topic can result in volence.

But 28-year old Jo Wahim, a street vendor provides an insight and the accusations against Anwar Ibrahim won’t affect his choice:

HOLLAND: And you don’t believe what thay say about him?

JO: Yeah. I don’t believe them.

HOLLAND: So you’ll vote for him?

JO: Yeah I’ll vote for him, I’ll vote for Anwar in this place we can talk about him … this politics makes people agree with me ok, I’m in business.

HOLLAND: So if I speak to you about politics people don’t like it?

JO: People don’t like.

HOLLAND: Anwar Ibrahim’s wife, Wan Azizah Ismail last week vacated the seat of Permatang Pauh opening the door for her husband’s return to parliament.

HOLLAND: How do you respond to criticism which suggests that you may have let down voters by resigning from your former post?

ISMAIL: Of course not, when I entered politics ten years ago it was clear that it was actually because Anwar was detained, arrested and falsely charged. So during that time I held for Permatang Pauh, the constituency everybody knew, and they accepted it and the voters accepted it. And in the last election, the general elections I told them in the campaign.

HOLLAND: Despite charges of sexual misconduct looming Anwar Ibrahim has been pushing ahead with his attempt to return to frontline politics.

HOLLAND: Thousands of people have turned out to Anwar Ibrahim’s rally in Bentong(?). It seems more like a festival than a political gathering, there’s dozens of foodstalls, drink stands, book shops and even a section devoted to herbal medicine. And then the main event:

HOLLAND: Anwar Ibrahim’s policies focus on lowering fuel prices and creating unity between Malays, Chinese and Indians. But the government says his promise to cut fuel costs is unrealistic. And while he is favourite to reclaim the seat his family has held for the past two decades, it seems his biggest battle ahead will be clearing his name in the courts.

Anwar Ibrahim:

IBRAHIM: I’ve been charged with a crime I did not commit. The real criminals will in their efforts to humiliate me and derail the people’s aspirations for transformational change in Malaysia hide behind a smokescreen created by the government, government controlled media, mainstream media.

HOLLAND: The Election Commission has set August the 26th as the date for Permatang Pauh voters to go to the polls. The last time Anwar Ibrahim won the seat was in 1995. He represented the current ruling party, which has held power since Malaysia gained independence. This time he must also fight for his own freedom. But he says he will do all he can to give Permatang Pauh’s 50-thousand voters the option to elect him, even if that means running his campaign from prison. Steve Holland reporting from Malaysia for Connect Asia.

And like China’s GDP, the burger company’s sales growth rate is also recording double-digit figures.

But on the flip side, obesity is also on the rise.

The company’s close to opening one thousand restaurants and plans to build hundreds more.

As it closes in on that milestone, Steve Holland looks at what’s behind McDonald’s success in China.

Dr Alkatiri’s demand comes after rebel leader Alfredo Reinado blamed Mr Gusmao for orchestratrating deadly unrest in 2006 in which at least 20 people died and hundreds of homes were destroyed.

After those riots the then President Gusmao sought Dr Alkatiri’s resignation, accusing him and several of his ministers of having helped arm civilian militias during the crisis.

In the past week, Alfredo Reinado has alleged Mr Gusmao “masterminded” the unrest.

The current president, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta has responded to the allegations in an exclusive interview with Steve Holland.

Rights activists meeting in Islamabad say poverty, a culture of weapons and a reliance on religious schools has led to an increase in child militants in the country.

And experts addressing the conference warn the problem is particularly bad in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

The former prime minister fled to the Lau Islands after being ousted in a coup last December.

Earlier this month he told Radio Australia he planned to visit Suva to meet his lawyers and discuss a court case he and members of his SDL party are bringing against the interim government.

But Mr Qarase claims the military’s threatened to kill him if he travels.

HOLLAND: Laisenia Qarase planned to return to Suva this Friday for the first time since being ousted from power. He says he arranged to catch up with family and friends and prepare for a court case concerning the legality of last December’s coup. He also hoped to start work on the SDL Party’s affairs, including preparations for the next general elections. But Mr Qarase says he’s been forced to alter his plans.

QARASE: Well this morning about 10 minutes to 8 o’clock in the morning Fiji time, I received a death threat, a telephone call. The caller said that he was from our military and the person told me that the military was looking forward to my return to the mainland, but that on arrival, they will kill me. He then swore at me. Before I could say anything, he put the phone down.

HOLLAND: The former prime minister says it’s not only death threats keeping him in the remote Lau Islands.

QARASE: Later on in the day, I received communication from the SDL Party office from our national director telling me that my travel plans this week to return to Suva have got into trouble. The military has instructed Air Fiji Limited, the local airline that services this island, never to transport me on any of their planes.

HOLLAND: Mr Qarase says the alleged restrictions imposed by the interim government are a gross violation of his rights.

QARASE: And also I think it is contempt of court, because the court about two months ago, had cleared the way for my travel to Suva and within Fiji.

HOLLAND: Mr Qarase is preparing for a court battle that will see him challenge the legality of the military takeover, which he claims was unconstitutional. He says this may have prompted the alleged restrictions.

QARASE: I think it has something to do with that case. I don’t really know why it should bother them, because we are exercising our right to take our grievances to court in the normal way.

HOLLAND: Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum says Fiji’s interim government has not threatened Mr Qarase. He says it’s difficult for the government to respond to such allegations.

KAIYUM: Well, what can one say to that. I mean there are a number of ministers in the current cabinet who have been threatened with all sorts of things, so I mean nothing has come out of it. I mean how am I to know whether the claim itself can be substantiated firstly. And secondly, if indeed it is true, we can’t work much on it unless you know who it is that called.

HOLLAND: The Attorney-General also challenges Mr Qarase’s claims that the government is imposing restrictions on his movement.

KAIYUM: That’s another allegation. Air Fiji is a private company. It obviously can take passengers etcetera. There is no restriction on the former prime minister to travel within Fiji. So he can travel from Lau to Suva, to wherever. There’s no restriction on him per se.

HOLLAND: And concerning Mr Qarase’s upcoming court case Mr Saiyad Khaiyum says Mr Qarase has the right to challenge the government in the courts, and that right will not be restricted.

KAIYUM: We have always said right from the beginning this government after it was appointed by the president following 5 January this year that anybody can seek legal redress with the courts, and the court systems judiciary is independent. And as he has lodged a claim, those claims are going through. There’s a hearing date has already been set for it, which is early October. There’s some interlocutory matters that will be heard in September, but the hearing date for the matter proper is on the 2nd October. The trial period has been set for some three to four weeks.

HOLLAND: Despite the Attorney-General’s reassurances, Mr Qarase says he will not be returning to Suva this Friday. But he says he will continue with his efforts to challenge Fiji’s interim government.

QARASE: For the time being, I will remain on the island. I have access by phone of course and fax to the media, to the outside world, so I continue to express my views and things that are happening in the country. So I am trying to help restore democracy in Fiji. That’s really my main aim and I think the aim of the great majority of people here in Fiji.

Human rights groups claim a lack of transparency has also contributed to the abuse of detainees in India’s jails and detention centres.

Now, in an attempt at reform, prison authorities in southern India are introducing inmates to poetry, literature and music… a move reminiscent of changes implemented at New Delhi’s notorious Tihar Jail – the country’s largest.

And it seems the jailhouse-reform programme in India’s south is proving equally beneficial.

But the area is also enormously rich in other resources, and energy giant Woodside Petroleum wants to strip away some of the rock artworks to build a plant as part of its Pluto gas project.

The Federal Government is now considering whether the Burrup Peninsula should be listed on the National Heritage register.

But it’s widely expected it will reject this proposal and instead reach agreement with the Western Australian Government to greenlight the resource development at the expense of some of the artworks.