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Malaysian prisoner turned leader claims majority

Malaysia's opposition leader -- a man once imprisoned on charges he said were a political attempt to ruin his career -- is now poised to form that country's next government.

73-year-old Anwar Ibrahim has had a tumultuous career, during which he spent almost 10 years in jail.

He was fired as deputy prime minister back in 1998 and jailed for corruption and sodomy. Homosexuality is outlawed in Malaysia.

He was jailed again for sodomy, under a new prime minister, in 2015.

Now, sitting next to his wife, he told a news conference he had secured a majority that would oust current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from power.

Anwar said he commanded support from close to two-thirds of the legislature's lawmakers.

He did not give actual numbers or disclose who had pledged support.

Nevertheless, it remains uncertain if he would be able to form a government as he is yet to receive the nod from Malaysia's king.

The king, who is currently in hospital, could instead choose to call for elections on Muhyiddin's advice to end months of political volatility.