Singapore  - Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of Malaysia's opposition, told reporters Wednesday he wants bring a motion of no confidence against the ruling government by the middle of September.

During a press conference in Singapore, Anwar told reporters "we have the numbers, we can move," adding that his People's Justice Party needed just 30 members to gain a simple majority in parliament. His party controls 82 seats in the legislature.

Anwar's comments come two days after Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, 83, announced Monday that he will quit the ruling United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) party that he has helmed for 22 years.

Anwar, 60, was ousted from government in 1998 by Mahathir in a power struggle amid accusations of corruption and sodomy. Anwar denied the charges, but served prison time for corruption which prevented him from holding public office until April 14, meaning he could not run in the March 8 general elections.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling UMNO-led National Front coalition failed to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament during the March 8 poll and lost a total of five states to the opposition, recording the party's worst election performance since the country's independence more than 50 years ago.

Anwar, an ethnic Malay, has said any government he forms will change Malaysia's system of promoting majority ethnic Malays over ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians for government contracts, jobs and education.

The highest priority is "political stability, security and peace," said Anwar.

He gave September 16, which commemorates the establishment of the Malaysian federation in 1963, as the date the no confidence vote will be held by.

Anwar added that he was confident that ruling party members would defect to his side. (dpa)