Malaysia's ruling coalition brought 41 lawmakers to Taiwan for a study tour while opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is working to persuade MPs to defect in his bid to overthrow the government. The opposition leaders are strategizing to remove the government by Anwar's set deadline of September 16. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called a meeting of his coalition to prevent any defections that could potentially end their 50-year rule. Anwar's efforts to disrupt the long-standing political system in Malaysia have increased political risks and unsettled foreign investors. The country's growing fiscal deficit, partly due to measures to boost the government's popularity after a poor general election last March, has also negatively impacted the ringgit currency, stock market, and bond prices. Adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty, Anwar is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday to confront a new sodomy charge that he claims the government fabricated to thwart his political aspirations. The judge is anticipated to move the case to a higher court. Before departing for an eight-day "study mission" in Taiwan, Barisan MPs informed reporters that their trip was unrelated to the Anwar situation. "We are going to Taiwan to study agriculture," stated Bung Mokhtar Radin, an MP from Sabah, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. "This trip is purely academic and not politically motivated." He, along with 40 other MPs, departed on Monday. An additional eight MPs will leave on Tuesday. Barisan holds 140 MPs compared to the opposition's 82. Lim Kit Siang, an experienced opposition figure, stated that government MPs left Malaysia in order to prevent them from participating in the "political changes" on September 16. He mentioned that the MPs may be under constant surveillance in Taiwan and have had their mobile phones confiscated. According to a political analyst, the Taiwan trip could serve as a convenient excuse for Anwar if he does not meet his September 16 deadline. Columnist Suhaini Aznam wrote in the Star newspaper that Barisan is falling into Anwar's psychological warfare tactics. Anwar had a meeting with leaders of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance on Monday to discuss the takeover plan, as confirmed by his aides. Anwar, who was dismissed as deputy prime minister in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, was later imprisoned for six years on charges of sodomy and corruption. He emerged victorious in a by-election last month, which granted him the opportunity to return to parliament. This now positions him to potentially become the prime minister should the opposition alliance come to power.