BANGKOK, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Thailand is confident that its strong ties with Malaysia and the two countries' continuing cooperation in solving the southern Thai conflict will remain intact after Malaysia's general election on March 8.
Its Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattama, said that although the election was an internal affair of the country, he believed that the outcome would not have any effect on the existing bilateral relationship.
"Although the election to elect a new government will take place soon, I'm confident that our ties will not change. Malaysia is a good neighbour and has helped us a lot in the southern issue," he told reporters after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej made his first visit to the ministry a week after the new government was sworn in last week.
Malaysians will go to the polls on March 8 while nominations will be held on Feb 24.
Despite the dissolution of Parliament, Noppadon, who is expected to start his customary visit to Asean member countries next week, said he still hoped to visit Malaysia during that period.
Otherwise, Noppadon said, he would take the opportunity during the two-day Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Singapore next Tuesday to meet his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, and other ministers from countries bordering Thailand.
He said Samak would also start his overseas visit at the end of this month by visiting the Asean countries, starting with the four countries bordering the kingdom -- Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Malaysia will hold a general election on March 8, the Election Commission said on Thursday, with the premier taking the country to the polls early despite growing discord over race and religious issues.
The next election was not due until May 2009.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in power since 2003, secured the dissolution of parliament on Wednesday and is viewed as certain to win the poll, but with a reduced majority.
He faces a likely swing against the ruling coalition, with minority ethnic Chinese and Indians particularly unhappy with his government, which is dominated by ethnic Malay politicians.
Analysts say he is calling a poll now because the electoral mood is unlikely to improve through the rest of his term and that the economy, his main selling point, is slowing down.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Malaysia to hold general election on March 8
Candidates will be nominated on February 24, said Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia.
Candidates will vie for 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats.
Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will lead the Barisan Nasional into the election for a second time.
On Wednesday, Badawi announced to dissolve the parliament to pave the way for general elections.
The assemblies of all states except for Sarawak were also dissolved Wednesday after the chief ministers sought consent from their respective rulers.
The dissolution came 15 months before the expiry of the parliament's five-year term on May 16, 2009. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition swept to a landslide victory in the last general election in 2004.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said he hoped the general election would run smoothly.
Candidates will vie for 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats.
Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will lead the Barisan Nasional into the election for a second time.
On Wednesday, Badawi announced to dissolve the parliament to pave the way for general elections.
The assemblies of all states except for Sarawak were also dissolved Wednesday after the chief ministers sought consent from their respective rulers.
The dissolution came 15 months before the expiry of the parliament's five-year term on May 16, 2009. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition swept to a landslide victory in the last general election in 2004.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said he hoped the general election would run smoothly.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Malaysian opposition leader says government misusing Islam
Singapore (ENI). Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has said multi-racial harmony in his country is under threat by State-sponsored Islamic puritanism that has damaged the constitutional rights of other faiths in the Muslim-majority southeast Asian nation.
In an 8 January speech at a regional forum in Singapore, Anwar also suggested that the Malaysian government was using Islamic puritanism to win votes in a general election expected to be held later during 2008.
"The real issue is what I would describe as State-sponsored Muslim puritanism borne more by racist sentiments than religious principles," Anwar told a gathering at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "It is this kind of theology that leads to the rejection of constitutional freedom of other faiths."
About 60 percent of Malaysia's population of 25 million are Muslims. Christians and Buddhists, who are mostly from the country's minority Chinese community, make up about 25 percent of the population, and Hindus of Indian origin make up about 10 percent.
Racial harmony between Malaysia's ethnic and religious groups has recently begun to show some strains as minorities have complained of their rights being encroached upon by court decisions and government policies favouring Muslims. Earlier in January, Malaysia's government banned minorities from using the word "Allah" in publications to describe the God of their non-Muslim faiths. Anwar called the ban "ridiculous nonsense".
"Today, this sense of inclusiveness is under serious threat," he said. "I'm convinced that Muslims, many Malaysian Muslims too, are equally appalled by this display of narrow-mindedness and intolerance."
Anwar is a former government minister who was groomed to lead Malaysia, but was fired in 1998 by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over allegations of corruption and sodomy. Anwar denied any wrongdoing and said the charges against him were trumped up by Mahathir who had begun to see him as a political threat. He was acquitted of the sodomy charge in 2004 by Malaysia's highest court.
A ban against Anwar holding public office or running in general elections because of the conviction for corruption will expire in April.
ENI featured articles are taken from the full ENI Daily News Service. Subscribe online to the Daily News Service and receive around 1000 full-text articles a year. ENI featured articles may be re-printed, re-posted, re-produced or placed on Web sites if ENI is noted as the source and there is a link to the ENI Web site www.eni.ch
In an 8 January speech at a regional forum in Singapore, Anwar also suggested that the Malaysian government was using Islamic puritanism to win votes in a general election expected to be held later during 2008.
"The real issue is what I would describe as State-sponsored Muslim puritanism borne more by racist sentiments than religious principles," Anwar told a gathering at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "It is this kind of theology that leads to the rejection of constitutional freedom of other faiths."
About 60 percent of Malaysia's population of 25 million are Muslims. Christians and Buddhists, who are mostly from the country's minority Chinese community, make up about 25 percent of the population, and Hindus of Indian origin make up about 10 percent.
Racial harmony between Malaysia's ethnic and religious groups has recently begun to show some strains as minorities have complained of their rights being encroached upon by court decisions and government policies favouring Muslims. Earlier in January, Malaysia's government banned minorities from using the word "Allah" in publications to describe the God of their non-Muslim faiths. Anwar called the ban "ridiculous nonsense".
"Today, this sense of inclusiveness is under serious threat," he said. "I'm convinced that Muslims, many Malaysian Muslims too, are equally appalled by this display of narrow-mindedness and intolerance."
Anwar is a former government minister who was groomed to lead Malaysia, but was fired in 1998 by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over allegations of corruption and sodomy. Anwar denied any wrongdoing and said the charges against him were trumped up by Mahathir who had begun to see him as a political threat. He was acquitted of the sodomy charge in 2004 by Malaysia's highest court.
A ban against Anwar holding public office or running in general elections because of the conviction for corruption will expire in April.
ENI featured articles are taken from the full ENI Daily News Service. Subscribe online to the Daily News Service and receive around 1000 full-text articles a year. ENI featured articles may be re-printed, re-posted, re-produced or placed on Web sites if ENI is noted as the source and there is a link to the ENI Web site www.eni.ch
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Report: Signs point to Malaysian elections in early March, despite government's troubles
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia is likely to hold general elections in early March, a news report said Thursday, even though the government's popularity appears under threat because of rising prices and anger among ethnic Indians.
The polls will be held «soon enough, latest by the first week of March,» The Star newspaper quoted
an unidentified senior minister in the ruling coalition as saying.
«Everybody is ready. If we wait any longer, fatigue will set in,» the minister was quoted as saying.
Government officials were not immediately available for comment because of a public holiday.
The minister's comments came as no a surprise. Malaysia's 12th general elections, not due until next year, were widely expected to be called in early 2008, although some observers have speculated that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could put the polls off until the middle of the year because of an uncertain public mood.
Abdullah's biggest challenge comes from the minority ethnic Indians who are unhappy with what they call legalized discrimination against them in jobs, education, business and religion. They cite an affirmative action policy for the majority Malay Muslims, ensuring wide privileges in virtually all aspects of life.
In November, about 20,000 Indians, most of whom are Hindus, demonstrated against official discrimination in a rare and open challenge to the government. The government jailed the five top leaders of the group that organized the protest.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is dominated by Abdullah's United Malays National Organization party, representing Malays who form 60 percent of the country's 27 million people. The other main party in the coalition is the Malaysian Chinese Association, which represents the Chinese who constitute 25 percent of the population.
The third coalition partner is the Malaysian Indian Congress, which depends on Indians who form 8 percent of the population, for its votes.
Barisan has been in power continuously since independence in 1957, thanks largely to a power-sharing agreement that gives political parties representing the multiethnic country's various races a proportional share of the government. It is expected to return to power easily.
Malaysians of all races are also concerned about rising prices and crime.
The number of violent crime cases went up from 31,408 in 2006 to 35,158 in 2007, according to official statistics released Wednesday. The number of property crimes such as thefts and burglaries jumped from 196,760 to 209,559 in the same period, the government said.
Still, Abdullah likely wants to get the elections over with before announcing more price hikes, especially for fuel, later this year.
The Star quoted Muhammad Muhammad Taib, the United Malays National Organization's information chief, as saying the party was concentrating on preparing for the election.
The polls will be held «soon enough, latest by the first week of March,» The Star newspaper quoted
an unidentified senior minister in the ruling coalition as saying.
«Everybody is ready. If we wait any longer, fatigue will set in,» the minister was quoted as saying.
Government officials were not immediately available for comment because of a public holiday.
The minister's comments came as no a surprise. Malaysia's 12th general elections, not due until next year, were widely expected to be called in early 2008, although some observers have speculated that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could put the polls off until the middle of the year because of an uncertain public mood.
Abdullah's biggest challenge comes from the minority ethnic Indians who are unhappy with what they call legalized discrimination against them in jobs, education, business and religion. They cite an affirmative action policy for the majority Malay Muslims, ensuring wide privileges in virtually all aspects of life.
In November, about 20,000 Indians, most of whom are Hindus, demonstrated against official discrimination in a rare and open challenge to the government. The government jailed the five top leaders of the group that organized the protest.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is dominated by Abdullah's United Malays National Organization party, representing Malays who form 60 percent of the country's 27 million people. The other main party in the coalition is the Malaysian Chinese Association, which represents the Chinese who constitute 25 percent of the population.
The third coalition partner is the Malaysian Indian Congress, which depends on Indians who form 8 percent of the population, for its votes.
Barisan has been in power continuously since independence in 1957, thanks largely to a power-sharing agreement that gives political parties representing the multiethnic country's various races a proportional share of the government. It is expected to return to power easily.
Malaysians of all races are also concerned about rising prices and crime.
The number of violent crime cases went up from 31,408 in 2006 to 35,158 in 2007, according to official statistics released Wednesday. The number of property crimes such as thefts and burglaries jumped from 196,760 to 209,559 in the same period, the government said.
Still, Abdullah likely wants to get the elections over with before announcing more price hikes, especially for fuel, later this year.
The Star quoted Muhammad Muhammad Taib, the United Malays National Organization's information chief, as saying the party was concentrating on preparing for the election.
Monday, January 7, 2008
WILL MCA LOSE VOTERS?
AS VOYEURS both sides of the Causeway pore over the nuances of the dirty DVD featuring ex-Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek and his florist lover, political observers are now weighing the political fallout from the biggest sex scandal to hit the country in recent years.
In particular, with a general election expected early this year, many wonder what the impact will be on the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
BN, which is made up of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the MCA and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), has already been under considerable pressure over the past months due to a series of street rallies challenging its authority.
Dr Chua's sex scandal also bears the hallmarks of a smear campaign, his supporters argue, and this suggests dissension within MCA ranks.
But some observers argue that such 'tactics' should not come as a surprise during general elections.
Political analyst James Wong said: 'Internal rivalry and power struggles are part and parcel of politics.'
But the analyst believes that the MCA could be losing some of its urban support and middle-class voters as it loses 'professional' leaders such as DrChua, Mr Lim Ah Lek (lawyer and former MCA deputy president) and MrChua Jui Meng (lawyer and former Health Minister), who are being replaced in the party by 'rabble rousers'.
Recent surveys have also shown that the Chinese population, which makes up 24 per cent of the country, is disappointed with the stagnant state in the Malaysian economy, particularly in the construction, retail and small and medium industries sector.
Mr Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent public opinion polling outfit Merdeka Centre, said: 'There were high hopes when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over from DrMahathir Mohamed as Prime Minister in 2004.'
He said the Chinese viewed MrAbdullah as a leader who could fight graft, introduce fair and equitable policies, and boost economic growth.
However, according to an MCA insider, there is a groundswell of opinion that the promises have not been kept.
'People are waiting for the economic spillover of the mega projects announced in the last few years, most of them are not feeling (the effects) yet,' the insider said.
In particular, with a general election expected early this year, many wonder what the impact will be on the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
BN, which is made up of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the MCA and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), has already been under considerable pressure over the past months due to a series of street rallies challenging its authority.
Dr Chua's sex scandal also bears the hallmarks of a smear campaign, his supporters argue, and this suggests dissension within MCA ranks.
But some observers argue that such 'tactics' should not come as a surprise during general elections.
Political analyst James Wong said: 'Internal rivalry and power struggles are part and parcel of politics.'
But the analyst believes that the MCA could be losing some of its urban support and middle-class voters as it loses 'professional' leaders such as DrChua, Mr Lim Ah Lek (lawyer and former MCA deputy president) and MrChua Jui Meng (lawyer and former Health Minister), who are being replaced in the party by 'rabble rousers'.
Recent surveys have also shown that the Chinese population, which makes up 24 per cent of the country, is disappointed with the stagnant state in the Malaysian economy, particularly in the construction, retail and small and medium industries sector.
Mr Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent public opinion polling outfit Merdeka Centre, said: 'There were high hopes when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over from DrMahathir Mohamed as Prime Minister in 2004.'
He said the Chinese viewed MrAbdullah as a leader who could fight graft, introduce fair and equitable policies, and boost economic growth.
However, according to an MCA insider, there is a groundswell of opinion that the promises have not been kept.
'People are waiting for the economic spillover of the mega projects announced in the last few years, most of them are not feeling (the effects) yet,' the insider said.
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