Malaysia's ruling coalition brought 41 lawmakers to Taiwan for a study tour as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim attempts to persuade MPs to defect in his bid to overthrow the government. The opposition leaders are strategizing to remove the government by September 16, while Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is calling for a meeting with his coalition to prevent any defections that could end their 50-year rule. Anwar's efforts to change the political landscape since independence in 1957 have increased Malaysia's political risks and unsettled foreign investors. The country's growing fiscal deficit, partly due to spending to regain popularity after a poor election result last March, has also negatively impacted the ringgit, stock market, and bond prices. Anwar is set to appear in court on Wednesday to face a new sodomy charge which he believes has been fabricated by the government to thwart his political aspirations, further adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty. Barisan MPs denied any connection to the Anwar case before departing for Taiwan on an eight-day "study mission" focused on agriculture. He departed on Monday along with 40 other MPs, and an additional eight will leave on Tuesday. Barisan has 140 MPs, while the opposition has 82. Lim Kit Siang, a long-time opposition leader, suggested that government MPs fled Malaysia to avoid being involved in potential political changes on September 16. He mentioned that the MPs may face constant surveillance 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 September 16 deadline. Columnist Suhaini Aznam wrote in the Star newspaper on Monday that Barisan was 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, according to his aides. Anwar was expected to release a statement following the meeting. Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was dismissed in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis and later imprisoned for six years on charges of sodomy and corruption. He was victorious in a special election last month that enabled him to return to parliament, positioning him to potentially become the prime minister if the opposition alliance is successful in gaining power.