Malaysia Prepares For An Unusually Issue-Driven General Election
As Crescent goes to press, intense campaigning is under way in Malaysia for the general election on March 8. The election was called by prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after almost a year of speculation that turned out to be correct: that it would be held before April this year. One reason why it is held a year in advance is for the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)-led coalition government to renew its mandate before economic problems become more apparent in the coming months.
Another reason for the early general election is to deny Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister who has become an opposition leader, a chance to stand, because his legal ban on holding a political position expires in April. But the first reason appears to be more pressing: rising prices and the government's reversal of subsidies to control the oil-price are some key issues on the minds of voters. Anwar, on the other hand, can always ask a winning candidate from his party to resign his seat and contest a bye-election to return to parliament.
Lagi:http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/3842/1/
As Crescent goes to press, intense campaigning is under way in Malaysia for the general election on March 8. The election was called by prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after almost a year of speculation that turned out to be correct: that it would be held before April this year. One reason why it is held a year in advance is for the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)-led coalition government to renew its mandate before economic problems become more apparent in the coming months.
Another reason for the early general election is to deny Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister who has become an opposition leader, a chance to stand, because his legal ban on holding a political position expires in April. But the first reason appears to be more pressing: rising prices and the government's reversal of subsidies to control the oil-price are some key issues on the minds of voters. Anwar, on the other hand, can always ask a winning candidate from his party to resign his seat and contest a bye-election to return to parliament.
Lagi:http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/3842/1/
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