The report quoted Fadzil Nor, chairman of the Malaysian People's Justice Movement (Gerak), as saying the movement was formed to fight injustice and not to support Anwar, who is being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on charges of corruption and sodomy.

Fadzil is President of Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS), one of the three Opposition parties in the newly-formed coalition which also comprises a dozen non-government organisations including the Islamic Youth Movement (Abim).

Abim president Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman had also distanced the group from the former finance minister, the paper said. ``We have no intention of becoming the champion in clearing his name,'' he was quoted as saying.

In a separate report, the newspaper said Gerak has threatened to boycott major English and Malay language newspapersfor three days if editors of the newspapers refused to meet them.

The coalition's leaders are seeking clarification of ``unsatisfactory coverage of its activities'', the report said. Gerak was launched at a massive anti-ISA rally attended by an estimated 100,000 people in a Muslim stronghold north of Kuala Lumpur on September 27.

The coalition had hoped to attract 500,000 people to an October 17 rally until authorities revoked a permit to hold the gathering at a stadium.

Gerak also includes the Democratic Action Party, the country's main Opposition party appealing largely to urban Chinese voters, along with the tiny Malaysian People's Party.

Anwar was sacked on September 2 as deputy premier and finance minister and arrested on September 20. His trial on some of the charges is due to start next month. Anwar has denied all the charges and maintained that he is a victim of a conspiracy.