Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Seeking Re-election, Malaysia's Leader Denies Sleeping On The Job

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's prime minister rejected critics' claims Monday that he deserved to lose in this week's general election for being a poor leader who sleeps on the job.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi insisted that his time in office since October 2003 has "not been a time of failure, but of success," citing steady economic growth and bolstered job opportunities under his government.

Opposition officials have urged voters not to hand Abdullah another five-year mandate in Saturday's general election, claiming that crime, corruption and racial and religious tensions have mounted because of his weak leadership.

"We are not deaf for we hear what the people say," Abdullah was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama. "We are not asleep for we are working."

Opposition rivals have accused Abdullah of being a "sleeping prime minister" who dozes off at Cabinet meetings, while anti-government Web sites have circulated photographs of him yawning or bowing his head with his eyes closed at political gatherings.

Lagi:http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/03/asia/AS-POL-Malaysia-Elections.php

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