Malaysia's ruling coalition brought 41 lawmakers to Taiwan for a study tour, while opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim sought to persuade MPs to defect in his bid to overthrow the government. Opposition leaders were strategizing on Monday to meet Anwar's deadline of September 16. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi scheduled a meeting on Tuesday with his coalition to prevent defections that could end its 50-year rule. Anwar's efforts to disrupt the political order since independence in 1957 have increased Malaysia's political risks and worried foreign investors. The country's growing fiscal deficit, exacerbated by measures to regain popularity after a poor election last March, has also impacted the ringgit, stock market, and bond prices. Anwar is facing a new sodomy charge in court on Wednesday, which he believes is a tactic by the government to sabotage his political aspirations. It is expected that the judge will move the case to a higher court. Barisan MPs denied any connection to the Anwar case before leaving for a trip to Taiwan, stating that their visit was solely for agricultural studies and not political in nature. He departed with 40 other MPs on Monday, and another eight will leave on Tuesday. Barisan has 140 MPs compared to the opposition's 82. Lim Kit Siang, an experienced opposition leader, stated that government MPs were compelled to leave Malaysia to prevent them from participating in potential "political changes" on Sept. 16. He remarked that the MPs have left, implying that they may be closely monitored and have their mobile phones confiscated while in Taiwan. According to a political analyst, the trip to Taiwan could serve as a convenient excuse for Anwar if he does not meet his deadline of September 16. Columnist Suhaini Aznam wrote in the Star newspaper that Barisan is falling into Anwar's psychological warfare strategy. Anwar held a meeting with leaders of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance on Monday to discuss the takeover plan, with a statement expected to follow. Anwar, who was dismissed as deputy prime minister in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, was subsequently imprisoned for six years on charges of sodomy and corruption. He emerged victorious in a by-election last month, enabling his return to parliament and potentially positioning him to assume the role of prime minister if the opposition alliance secures power.