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Mounting Political Tension in Malaysia

Claudia BlumeJanuary 25, 2008

Tension is high in Malaysia, which is gearing up for early elections. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's approval ratings have hit an all-time low. The electorate is reportedly dissatisfied about rising prices, racial tensions and growing crime. The main opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim meanwhile has warned there could be election fraud and says his party can bring relief to Malaysia's problems.

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After a landslide victory in 2004, Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now unpopular among voters
After a landslide victory in 2004, Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now unpopular among votersImage: AP

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi does not have to call elections until next year. But he is widely expected to schedule polls as early as March. The country's main opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claims this is because Mr. Abdullah wants to prevent him from running for office.

Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister, has been barred from serving in a governmental position until April because of his conviction for corruption charges in 1998.

Anwar was convicted of sodomy and corruption and sent to prison. Human rights group said the charges were politically-motivated. He was released in 2004.

Election fraud?

Anwar recently warned of possible election fraud by the ruling coalition. "We have produced evidence of massive rigging, phantom voters in every constituency. All this of course is evidence of fraud. It could be proven that there is massive rigging I don’t think it would bear well for the stability of the country."

The government of Prime Minister Abdullah currently faces numerous challenges, including inflation, increasing crime, alleged corruption in the judiciary and racial tensions.

In recent months, the country has been shaken by anti-government protests by ethnic Indians, who complain of racial discrimination. Five Indian activists, detained for organizing one such rally, went on a hunger strike at the beginning of this week to protest their imprisonment.

Anwar said Malaysia was losing out economically to regional rivals because of its long-running affirmative-action policy that favors ethnic Malays.

Economic policy

Anwar also criticised the government's economic policies: "Malaysia has lost its steam compared to the 1990s. We have lost foreign direct investments, growth and attractiveness, which is key to an emerging market, an emerging economy. Not to China, or India but to Vietnam. FDI to Indonesia, to Thailand. Why? Partly because of our obsolete policies."

Anwar warned that the pursuing of such an agenda would end up being not only at the expense of the Chinese and Indians in the country but also of ethnic Malays.

Anwar has suggested his Keadilan (Justice) party will cooperate with Chinese and Indian political leaders to forge a multi-racial party platform.

Keadilan fared poorly in the 2004 elections, winning only one seat in parliament. But Anwar hopes that public dissatisfaction will work in the party’s favour this time.