Malaysia's ruling coalition brought 41 lawmakers to Taiwan for a study tour on Monday, as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim tries to persuade MPs to defect in his bid to remove the government. Top opposition leaders met to plan their campaign to oust the government by Anwar's self-imposed deadline of Sept. 16. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called a meeting of his Barisan Nasional coalition on Tuesday to prevent any defections that could end its 50-year rule. Anwar's efforts to change the political landscape since independence in 1957 have increased Malaysia's political risks and worried foreign investors. The country's growing fiscal deficit, partly due to spending to boost government popularity after a poor election result last March, has also impacted the ringgit, stock market, and bond prices. Adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty, Anwar is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday to address a new sodomy charge that he believes the government fabricated to thwart his political aspirations. It is anticipated that the judge will move the case to a higher court. Barisan MPs informed the media before departing for Taiwan on an eight-day "study mission" that their trip was unrelated to the Anwar situation. Bung Mokhtar Radin, an MP from Sabah, stated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport that they were going to Taiwan to learn about agriculture and that the trip had no political motives. He and a group of 40 MPs departed on Monday, with an additional eight set to leave on Tuesday. The Barisan coalition currently has 140 MPs compared to the opposition's 82. Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang expressed concerns that government MPs left Malaysia in order to avoid being involved in potential political changes on Sept. 16. He mentioned that the MPs may be closely monitored and have their mobile phones confiscated while in Taiwan. A political analyst suggested that Anwar's Taiwan trip could serve as a convenient excuse if he did not meet his Sept. 16 deadline. Columnist Suhaini Aznam wrote in the Star newspaper that Barisan was unintentionally aiding Anwar in his psychological warfare tactics. Anwar held a meeting with leaders of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance on Monday to discuss the takeover plan, according to his aides. Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was dismissed in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis and subsequently served six years in prison on charges of sodomy and corruption. He emerged victorious in a by-election last month, enabling him to return to parliament and potentially become prime minister if the opposition alliance secures power.