Friday, March 7, 2008

Malaysian Poll Unlikely To Be Fair, Says Rights Body

Malaysian government restrictions on free speech, freedom of assembly and the media will deny citizens a fair vote in Saturday's general election, a rights group said on Wednesday.

Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is considered certain to be re-elected in the poll, but risks a backlash by Buddhist ethnic Chinese and Hindu ethnic Indians, who complain of religious and racial inequality in the mainly Muslim nation.

The opposition, which wants to deny Barisan a two-thirds majority in parliament, the level needed to change the constitution, hopes to draw a protest vote over rising food and fuel costs, street crimes and an influx of cheap foreign labour.

Lagi:http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/3874/84/

No comments: