Bersih To Support Black 505 If Purpose To Get EC To Resign

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Bersih will back KL 'Black 505' if it urges EC to resign

Lee Long Hui 1:37PM Jun 4, 2013

Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga said that the electoral reform pressure group will support the ‘Black 505’ rally held by Pakatan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur should it aim to urge the Election Commission (EC) to resign.

Ambiga said that Bersih has yet to get know the aims of the rally, which will be held on June 15.

“We don’t know, we believe one of the aims as they said earlier is to ask the EC to resign. If that’s the case, we will support such a move because we think the EC should resign,” she told the press after Bersih failed to meet Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad this morning.

Ambiga also stressed that Bersih maintains its stand that everyone has the constitutional right to hold a rally.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday that Pakatan will hold this rally in Kuala Lumpur on June 15 to protest alleged electoral fraud in the 13th general election that was held on May 5.

Asked if the rally would be held in a stadium or whether it would be a street demonstration, he said the rally secretariat would furnish details in due course.

This is to continue a series of protests around the country against alleged electoral fraud dubbed ‘Black 505', which began in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, on May 8.

Bersih previously had held two massive rallies in downtown Kuala Lumpur to urge electoral reform prior to the 13th general election.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

One Million To Hit The Streets Of KL In Mammoth Rally

'1 million people' street rally planned in KL

Ram Anand 9:39AM May 14, 2013

NGOs led by Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) have pledged to mobilise at least 1 million people to the streets of Kuala Lumpur for a mammoth rally against electoral fraud later this month.

SAMM head Badrul Hisham Shaharin (left), better known as Chegubard, said the public will be informed of the date and the meeting points five days in advance.

He and other NGO leaders talked up the rally at a discussion on electoral fraud and democracy at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night.

The rally, if it attracts the anticipated attendance, would surpass the crowds seen at a series of Pakatan Rakyat rallies held in Kelana Jaya, Penang and Ipoh since last week.

"We had planned this for May 18, but there were objections from some sections of our supporters who felt (there was not enough time) to mobilise (people)," Chegubard told Malaysiakini.

Blogger Hishamuddin Rais (right), also a speaker at the talk, said the time has come for the people to keep the ‘promise’ that they would go to the streets if there was fraud during the 13th general election .

"The (electoral) system has been created for Umno. They will do anything for a win. It is only your thickness that makes you think that Umno can be removed from government through elections.

“This is not a threat. It's a promise," Hishamuddin said to a rapturous applause from the crowd of 1,000 people.

"Arrange a massive movement. If someone asks me to produce evidence about electoral fraud, I would say he is stupid. I have been writing about this for donkey’s years.”

His thoughts were echoed by ABU leader Haris Ibrahim, who also said the rakyat should act and not just wait another five years for another opportunity to change the government.

 

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Twenty Seven Seats To Be Scrutnised

Rafizi's team to probe election results in 27 seats

Hafiz Yatim & Tharshinaa Chandran 1:22PM May 13, 2013

The team assembled by PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli to probe alleged electoral fraud has identified 27 parliamentary seats nationwide for scrutiny, with a high probability of election petitions being filed in the coming days.

Nineteen of the seats were contested by PKR, and the rest by Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners DAP and PAS.

PKR lost by a small margin in the seats of Baram, Pasir Gudang, Machang, Ketereh, Bagan Serai, Kota Marudu, Beaufort, Setiawangsa, Segamat, Ledang, Balik Pulau, Kulim Bandar Baharu, Muar, Hulu Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Merbok, Pensiangan, Tebrau and Saratok.

DAP lost in Bentong and Labis, while PAS lost Kuala Selangor, Sungai Besar, Titiwangsa, Pulai, Kuala Kangsar and Pendang.
In the 13th general election on May 5, BN won 133 seats against Pakatan’s 89.

Had Pakatan won the 27 parliamentary seats under scrutiny, it would have formed the federal government for the first time with a simple majority.

Rafizi said that his team, dubbed 'Siasat PRU13', has received 237 reports of irregularities which have been classified in four categories:

- A narrow margin of victory, of less than five percent

- A narrow margin which may not tally with the spoilt votes recorded, where the number of spoilt votes is bigger than the margin of victory

- The percentage of postal voters and early voters which bypassed the margin of victory of the normal voters, where the outcome was affected by the postal and early voters

- Seats where there was alleged fraud and where police reports have been lodged

The team will begin to record statements from witnesses from next week and to highlight the irregularities discovered to the media.

In addition to the 27 federal seats, there were similar problems in eight state seats in Kedah, Penang and Perak, said Rafizi.

However, the team will focus on the parliamentary seats. It will have help from 67 volunteers who comprise accountants and lawyers.

System ‘heavily stacked’

Rafizi noted that the candidates have 21 days after the election results are gazetted to file petitions in court.

Asked if highlighting the alleged irregularities to the media before these are presented in court could disrupt proceedings of petitions, Rafizi said Pakatan has to be realistic because the system is “heavily stacked against those who want to mount a challenge”.

“The law is written by BN and it is stacked against us (because) the Number One flaw is with regard to the defective electoral roll.

“Ever since the Likas petition in 2001, the electoral roll cannot be challenged (due to an amendment). Even if we have a Bangladeshi or Indonesian being allowed to vote as they have identity cards, this cannot be challenged.

“We know there is a slim chance and everything may be against us but we have to create a momentum (to show that) that cheating to skew the election results exists.”

He claimed that BN is not going to respect the wishes of the people and will manipulate the results in whatever way it can.

The Likas petition had seen the Kota Kinabalu High Court declare the results null and void due to irregularities in the electoral roll. Following the ruling, the Election Act was amended to bar legal challenges to the electoral roll.

Six types of offences

Rafizi listed six types of violations or fraud during the general election:

- Legitimate voters were not allowed to cast their vote as they were marked as already having done so.

- The BN bought votes by offering money or vouchers which could be exchanged for cash, as had been discovered in Balik Pulau, Penang.

- There were unidentified voters at various addresses; the owners of these premises had lodged police reports.

- The indelible ink used to mark the voter’s index finger could be washed off.

- The Election Commission officers signed the Form 14 before counting began, and did not hand the form as required by the law to the candidates or their representatives.

- Foreigners had been issued an identity card so that they could vote.

Rafizi further noted that postal voters and early voters, who usually account for 20-30 percent of opposition votes had declined to 10-15 percent.

“There is something wrong, When we asked them after they had cast the votes, about 50 percent said they had (voted for Pakatan parties), but this was not reflected in the results. The 10-15 percent recorded from early votes was the poorest showing (to date),” he added.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Voice Of America: Malaysians Defy Police, Rally Against Election

News / Asia

Malaysians Defy Police, Rally Against Election Loss

Demonstrators attend a rally in protest of Sunday's election result at a stadium in Kelana Jaya, outside Kuala Lumpur, May 8, 2013.

Related Articles

•  Malaysian Opposition Cries Foul after Ruling Coalition Keeps Power
• Malaysia's Anwar Vows to Challenge Election Results
• Malaysia PM Faces Limited Future After Poor Electoral Showing
• Malaysian Police Declare Opposition Protest 'Illegal'

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VOA News

May 08, 2013

Tens of thousands of Malaysian opposition supporters rallied late Wednesday to protest what they say are fraud-marred election results that enabled the long-ruling coalition to remain in power.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called the rally, which filled a sports stadium outside Kuala Lumpur, despite threats by Malaysian police to arrest anyone who attended.

National police chief Ismail Omar had warned earlier that the protest was illegal because Anwar did not apply for a government permit.

Malaysia's Peaceful Assembly Act tightly regulates protests and public gatherings, and requires organizers to receive advance permission for rallies.  Anwar, an ex-deputy prime minister, has said the law is an undemocratic assault on free speech.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (R) reads his oath declaration as he is sworn in for his second term as prime minister, May 6, 2013.

Supporters followed his directive to wear black T-shirts to the protest with "050513" to mark the date of the poll won by Prime Minister Najib Razak's coalition.  He said it is the beginning of a "fierce movement" to challenge the vote and reform Malaysia's electoral system.

Final results from Sunday's election show the National Front coalition captured a large majority of the seats, despite losing the popular vote for the first time in 44 years.

Tian Chua, vice president of the opposition People's Justice Party, says he rejects the notion that the Wednesday protest is illegal.

"There are no issues about objections from the stadium owner, so this cannot be interpreted as a threat to public order. I think the police are probably just following the instructions of the newly sworn-in prime minister, Najib Razak," said Tian Chua. "I don't think the police are expressing a position that is legally valid."

Tian says his coalition will continue the fight to challenge the election results, saying that the government of Prime Minister Najib has lost its legitimacy.

"The results of the poll clearly show that the majority of the people reject his leadership," he said. "At the same time, there are so many eyewitnesses who can testify to massive fraud in various seats."

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  Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim leaves a polling station with his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail after casting their votes during the general elections in Permatang Pauh, Malaysia, May 5, 2013.

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Rumors of cheating plagued the polls, including the use of ink to mark voters that critics say could be easily washed off. There also were complaints of foreigners being flown into the country to cast ballots.

A group of independent observers on Wednesday gave a mixed verdict. The report by the Center for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) and the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) noted a pro-government media bias, a lack of transparency in campaign spending, and the unequal organization of voting constituencies.

But one of the observers, Ramon Navarathnam of CPPS, said the election generally represented the will of the Malaysian people.

"There could have been some little discrepancy which could have, might have, affected the results in very marginal seats. I'm not saying it did, but could. But overall that's what's important, it's captured the spirits and the will of the people of Malaysia," said Navarathnam.

Razak, who was sworn in on Monday, has firmly dismissed the fraud charges, insisting that the results were in line with opinion polls that suggested his coalition was likely to win. The U.S. has also recognized the results.

Although the ruling bloc was able to win 133 of the 222 available seats and extend its 56-year rule, it only received 48 percent of the popular vote, compared to 52 percent for the opposition. It is the coalition’s poorest electoral performance since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Pakatan Rakyat Will Not Back Down On Claims That Barisan Nasional Cheated Its Way Back To Office

Go HERE for the story

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Malaysia's Opposition To give Evidence Of Electoral Fraud

For Radio Australia's story, click HERE


PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

BBC: US Raises Concerns; Opposition Calls For Vote Recount

Rally against Malaysia vote outcome http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22445435

Radio Australia: Anwar Wants Protests Over 'Stolen' Malaysian Election

Anwar wants protests over 'stolen' Malaysian election

Updated 7 May 2013, 9:50 AEST

Malaysia's Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is urging his supporters to rally and protest against what he says were fraudulent elections.

Extended interview: Anwar Ibrahim (Credit: ABC) 

Video: Extended interview: Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia's Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is urging his supporters to rally and protest against what he says were fraudulent elections.

The ruling National Coalition succeeded in obtaining a parliamentary majority in one of the country's most closely fought elections.

Mr Anwar has told Australia Network's Newsline there's evidence of fraud in more than 30 constituencies, and he believes his party has won.

He claims the Election Commission may have been complicit in the alleged wrongdoing

"They went ahead and announced the results and even the manner in which the results was announced was so suspect," he said.

"But even the irregularities are largely known to Malaysians - the fraudulent process, the electoral roll, the presence of foreigners - particularly Bangladeshis and people from Myanmar, the indelible ink which was not indelible at all - this list goes on and on."

"I think no-one in their right mind could accept this sort of fraudulent process, and massive cheating, to steal an election [that is] legitimately ours."

I think no-one in their right mind could accept this sort of fraudulent process, and massive cheating, to steal an election [that is] legitimately ours.

Anwar Ibrahim

Najib Razak's party maintains a 133 seat majority in the 222-member parliament, and he has been sworn in for his second term as leader.

The Opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance claimed the popular vote, but was unable to take make a significant dent in Barisan Nasional's numbers.

Secretary general of Barisan Nasional in the eastern state of Sabah, Abdul Rahman Dahlan has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program the opposition needs to provide proof of fraud or accept the result.

"The prime minister has made it very clear that if they (the Opposition) have proof of any wrongdoings, they are more than welcome to bring it to court, and let the court settle the allegations," he said.
"So we're pretty clear with that - we are giving them an opportunity under the law - they can resort to a petition.

"If they allege something that they think was wrong, then it is incumbent upon them to provide proof."
Mr Anwar has appealed to the Opposition's supporters not to resort to violence over the results, but has called on supporters to rally on Wednesday to voice their anger in a non violent fashion.
"That is why I have cautioned them to cool off matters for a while," he said.

"So that we can continue to protest, we don't accept this election which is clearly fraudulent. But we will advise them to probably have assemblies in contained areas, public fields or public stadiums,"

Mr Anwar is also wearing black in response to an internet campaign demanding people wear black to mark a day of mourning for what they term the death of democracy in Malaysia.

"I leave it to the Malaysian people they are just enraged, you can't imagine the amount of anger," he said
"Hundreds of thousands are saying, wear black."

Mr Anwar had pledged that he would retire as opposition leader if his coalition was defeated at the elections.
"I made it clear that I want to go back to teaching," he said.

"I'm not giving up my role to advise or participate in the political process, but essentially I'll be in the back-seat, to allow younger leaders to take the helm of political leadership.

"But here, for now, that question is irrelevant because we won the elections - why do you want me to retire when we won the elections?"

To watch Anwar's interview on Radio Australia, click HERE

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Please Join Me In Demanding Justice For GE13

TO ALL MY FRIENDS: GE13 has come and gone. I was happy to participate in it. However, I must say that I join the millions of Malaysians who are extremely dissatisfied with the way the elections were conducted, and in particularly, with the attitude and response of the Election Commission towards the serious irregularities.

For instance, I was able to get rid of the "indelible ink" within minutes using Johnson's Baby Soap! True accounts of voter boxes coming in at the eleventh hour and sudden blackouts at polling centres also raise suspicion and mistrust.

As such, I am joining millions in Facebook to use the black box in my profile as a protest to what has happened and demand for a satisfactory explanation from the Election Commission for these serious allegations.

I invite you all to join me to in this important endeavour for the sake of our beloved nation. Thank you! The struggle continues.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

BBC: Significant Numbers Of Malaysians Do Not Accept Najib's Victory As Legitimate

6 May 2013 Last updated at 14:36 GMT

BBC ONLINE

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim urges protest over poll defeat

Anwar Ibrahim: "I am disgusted at the fact that... they could steal an election"

 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged supporters to stage a protest after Malaysia's ruling coalition won polls he said were marred by fraud.
His call came as PM Najib Razak was sworn into office after his Barisan Nasional (BN, National Front) coalition won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats.

Mr Anwar's three-party alliance secured 89 seats on Sunday in the country's closest polls since independence.

The BN has been in power in Malaysia for more than half a century.

The polls saw an 80% voter turnout, amid strong campaigning from both sides.

 

Analysis

Jonathan Head BBC News, Kuala Lumpur

I met people who showed me how they had been able to wash the supposedly indelible ink off their fingers within minutes of voting. The deputy chairman of the Election Commission told me this was not important.

People needed to show their identity card to vote, he said, so it did not matter if the ink came off.

The commission has declared the result free and fair. But opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed the body as a tool of the government. It has no powers to investigate irregularities - that should be done by the police, although they have a poor track record of doing so.

It is difficult to assess how much such irregularities may have affected the result. There is a belief among opposition activists that ballot boxes are stuffed with extra votes in secret, but this is impossible to confirm and denied by the government. What is clear is that significant numbers of Malaysians do not accept Prime Minister Najib Razak's victory as legitimate.

The BN secured a simple majority but failed to regain the two-thirds parliamentary majority it lost for the first time in 2008.

Mr Anwar, who called the results the worst in Malaysia's history, said it did not reflect the will of the people.
He said that while his coalition has advised supporters against mass rallies, "we must be allowed to express ourselves properly in stadiums or in the vicinity of a public space".

A protest is scheduled to take place outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday.
 

'Failed' elections
Mr Anwar said the authorities had rejected "the true aspirations of Malaysians wanting reform" and accused the Election Commission of being "complicit in the crime" of fraud.

"I don't think they are the best person to assure us that the election is free," he told the BBC.

He added that there were "specific incidents" of voter fraud involving foreign nationals.
Independent pollster Merdeka Center cited unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given ID documents and being allowed to vote.

Some of those who voted in advance said that indelible ink on their hands - supposed to last for days and show they had already voted - had easily washed off.

The opposition also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denied.

Ahead of the polls, Malaysia's Election Commission said it had done all it could to keep the polls clean.
This result is a bitter blow to the opposition coalition, after a spirited campaign that tapped into a hunger for change among many younger Malaysians, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Kuala Lumpur reports.

 

Malaysia 2013 polls

• Election was considered Malaysia's most keenly contested poll since independence
• PM Najib Razak leads the long-dominant coalition Barisan Nasional (National Front)
• Anwar Ibrahim leads the three-party opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat
• Key poll issues included corruption, race-based policies that favour ethnic Malays, and the economy
• Turnout was estimated at a record 80%, election officials said
• In 2008, of the 222 seats in parliament the BN won 140 and the opposition won 82

• Q&A: Malaysia elections
• Profile: Najib Razak
• Profile: Anwar Ibrahim

They had believed a surge of support, especially in urban areas, would be enough to unseat a ruling coalition that has been in government for more than half a century, our correspondent adds.

Thousands of opposition supporters swapped their Facebook profile photos for black boxes to show their dismay when they learned that the ruling coalition had retained power, AP news agency reported.
'Tsunami'
Mr Najib, 59, was sworn in as prime minister by Malaysia's king on Monday afternoon.

Speaking after his coalition's election victory, he urged all Malaysians to accept his coalition's victory but acknowledged there was work ahead.

"One of the programmes we will undertake is national reconciliation... I think we realise that there are a lot of things we have to do as a party," he said.

He noted that ethnic Chinese voters had turned to the opposition, which has pledged to reform the government's affirmative action policies that benefit ethnic Malays, in what he called "a Chinese tsunami".
"The results show a trend of polarisation which worries the government. If it is not addressed, it can create tension or division in the country," Mr Najib said.

Unconfirmed reports suggested that the coalition did not receive a majority of the popular vote.
Tallies by independent online media gave the BN coalition 49%, which would make Mr Najib the first leader to win with a minority of the popular vote, AFP news agency reported.

Malaysian shares reacted positively to news that the BN had won.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index jumped as much as 9.5% to a lifetime high of 1,826.22 in early trade on Monday, before ending the day higher by 3%.

The local currency, the ringgit, hit a 10-month high.

To watch Anwar's interview on BBC, click HERE. It will take you to the BBC's page. Then, click on video to view.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

BBC: Malaysia Votes In Closely Contested Elections

5 May 2013 Last updated at 01:57 GMT

BBC ONLINE

Malaysia votes in closely contested elections

Voters are faced with retaining the ruling party or choosing an untested opposition

 

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Malaysian PM denies election tricks
• Stakes high in Malaysia's pivotal election
• Economy key in Malaysia's tightest poll

Malaysians are going to the polls in what is widely expected to be the most closely contested general election in the country's history.

PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition is up against Pakatan Rakyat, a three-party alliance headed by Anwar Ibrahim.

Voters are faced with returning the ruling party, in power for 56 years, or choosing an untested opposition.
Ahead of the polls, allegations of various forms of fraud have emerged.

The BBC's Jonathan Head, at a polling station in Kuala Lumpur, said queues formed there well before voting began.

Analysts say that for the first time since Malaysia's independence in 1957, there is a real possibility that the opposition may be able to unseat the ruling party.

The possibility of an end to more than half a century of one-party rule has made this the hardest-fought election anyone can remember, our correspondent says.

The hunger for change, especially among younger Malaysians, has given the opposition real momentum during the campaign, he adds.

But the ruling party has significant advantages, he says, in the cash it has spent on crowd-pleasing hand-outs, and in the way Malaysia's parliamentary system over-represents rural areas, where the government's support is strongest.
 
Clamour for change?

Barisan Nasional, while credited with bringing economic development and political stability, has also been tainted by allegations of corruption.

Continue reading the main story

Malaysia 2013 polls

• Election is expected to be Malaysia's most keenly contested poll since independence
• PM Najib Razak leads the long-dominant coalition Barisan Nasional (National Front)
• Anwar Ibrahim leads the three-party opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat
• Key issues include corruption, race-based policies that favour Malays and the economy

• Q&A: Malaysia elections
• Profile: Najib Razak
• Profile: Anwar Ibrahim

But it remains to be seen whether Mr Anwar's coalition, comprising parties of different ethnicities and religions, can persuade voters to choose an alternative government.

Mr Najib, 59, said he was confident that Malaysians would retain his coalition and even return the two-thirds parliamentary majority Barisan Nasional lost in the 2008 polls.

"I asked myself, why are we getting more support from people?" he said during a campaign rally on Thursday.

"Because for the last four years we have proved that our national transformation has been able to protect and benefit all Malaysians."

He told supporters in his home state of Pahang on Saturday that he wanted to "carry on with the trust" placed in him, saying: "The task of transformation is not over yet."

Meanwhile, Mr Anwar, 65, said people's clamour for change meant that Pakatan Rakyat would emerge victorious.

"God willing, we will succeed," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"People have enough of this semi-authoritarian rule, of complete [government] control of the media, of strong arrogance, of power and endemic corruption."

On a campaign stop in the north on Friday evening he told supporters it was "an election of the people fighting oppressive and corrupt rulers."
 
'Support the process'
Allegations of election fraud have surfaced before the election. Some of those who voted in advance have complained that indelible ink - supposed to last for days - easily washed off.

The opposition has also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denies.

"In the past few months we are already hearing rumours and unsubstantiated statements about the presence of foreign nationals being given IDs and then allowed to vote," Ibrahim Suffian, director of the independent pollster Merdeka Center, told Reuters news agency.

Mr Razak's party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), said the flights had been funded by supporters and not the prime minister himself.

It said they were routine efforts to help voters get home.

Speaking on Saturday in his home state of Penang, Mr Anwar said his party had advised supporters "to remain calm, not to be provoked, not to take the law into their own hands, support the process".

"Unless there's a major massive fraud tomorrow - that is our nightmare - we will win," he told AFP.
Rights group Human Rights Watch also said there had been well-planned attacks against the country's independent media ahead of the polls.

It said on Thursday that readers were unable to access several online news sites providing coverage of opposition candidates.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Last Ditch Campaigns Intensify In Pivotal Malaysia Polls Amidst Allegations Of Vote Buying And Electoral Fraud

Campaigns intensify ahead of pivotal Malaysia polls

Updated 4 May 2013, 17:08 AEST

Zoe Daniel and Liam Cochrane in Kuala Lumpur, staff and wires

Malaysia's political rivals have launched a last-ditch campaign on the eve of elections that have been marred by allegations of vote buying and electoral fraud.

Flags of Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition (blue) and opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) (green) are seen on display in Kuala Lumpur on May 4, 2013. (Credit: Reuters)

 

Malaysia's political rivals have launched a last-ditch campaign on the eve of elections that have been marred by allegations of vote buying and electoral fraud.

Sunday's vote is the first elections in the country's history in which the long-ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition faces possible defeat.

Prime Minister Najib Razak and Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim are campaigning hard through their home regions where they will cast their own ballots early on May 5.

The Opposition coalition has accused the interim government of attempting to rig the result.

It says BN is chartering planes to fly tens of thousands of "dubious" voters into pivotal areas.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says as many as 40,000 voters have been flown from Malaysia's eastern states to the peninsula, allegedly to boost support for the ruling coalition in threatened constituencies.

The interim government has acknowledged the flights but called them part of a "get out the vote" drive.

UMNO's secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor says the flights have been paid for by "friends" of BN.


He says it is a "normal" practice and has denied the prime minister's office is involved.

Malaysia's Election Commission says political parties are allowed to transport voters to their electorate, as long as they don't try to influence which way they vote.

Barisan Nasional has tightly held power in Malaysia since independence in 1957.

But its grip is slipping amid rising anger over corruption, controversial policies favouring Malays and authoritarian tactics.

A survey released on Friday indicated the result was too close to predict, with Barisan and the Opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition roughly equal in terms of support but with a large undecided bloc.

"This election is an election of the people fighting oppressive and corrupt rulers," Mr Anwar told a cheering crowd in a campaign stop in northern Malaysia late on Friday.

A simple parliamentary majority is enough to form a government.

 

Video: Liam Cochrane on Malaysia's tightly contested election (ABC News)

Close race

The latest survey by Independent Madika Centre shows the Opposition coalition enjoys a very narrow lead with 42 per cent support.

Barisan National stands at 41 per cent, with the rest undecided or not saying.

The opinion poll shows the third consecutive slip in support for incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak, but his approval rating still sits at 61 per cent.

The Madika polls shows 46 seats undecided largely semi-rural constituencies within 50 to 100 kilometres of a rural centre.

In a nationally televised interview, Prime Minister Najib Razak appealed to voters for a "strong mandate" so he can implement his promises of reform.

"Definitely, with a strong mandate, we can do much better in the next five years," he said.

But opposition leaders and activists have warned the election could be "stolen" by BN, which has a history of alleged voter fraud in past polls.

"The most critical elections in Malaysia's history are likely to be stolen from the people with a series of fraudulent moves on the eve of polling day", said a statement by Bersih, a clean-polls NGO coalition that has organised huge electoral-reform rallies.

Fraud concerns

Last week it was revealed that indelible ink meant to mark voters' fingers to prevent multiple voting could be washed off.

The Opposition coalition is denouncing the Electoral Commission for not clearing up electoral rolls and is urging greater accountability.

Violence also has raised tensions, though no deaths have been reported.

In the latest incident, an explosive device detonated at a power substation near the Kuala Lumpur headquarters of Mr Anwar's party on Friday, causing minor damage, a party official said.

The Opposition Coalition is denouncing the Electoral Commission for not clearing up electoral rolls and urges greater accountability.

Mr Anwar was Barisan's heir-apparent until a 1998 power struggle saw him jailed for six years on sex and graft charges widely criticised as trumped up.

He promises a more transparent government and an end to ties between business and the powerful ruling elite.

 

Video: Malaysia's young voters to play key role in election (ABC News)

ABC/AFP

Topics:

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Voice Of America: Malaysia's Anwar Raises Voter Fraud Alarm Ahead Of Poll

News / Asia

Malaysia's Anwar Raises Voter Fraud Alarm Ahead of Poll

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is greeted by his supporters after an election campaign rally in Petaling Jaya outside Kuala Lumpur, May 1, 2013.

Reuters

May 02, 2013

 

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that tens of thousands of "dubious'' voters may have been flown in to key states to boost the government's chances in this weekend's election, an accusation denied by the ruling coalition.

Electoral fraud is a sensitive issue in Malaysia, where a civil society movement has sprung up to demand electoral reforms in increasingly large street  protests. A narrow victory by the ruling coalition on Sunday could trigger allegations of  cheating and calls for more street protests.

Anwar said the Prime Minister's Office had been involved in arranging charter flights for voters supplied by national carrier, Malaysian Airlines. He accused the government of flying at least 40,500 individuals since April 25 on chartered flights from the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak to mainland areas.

Malaysian General Elections

-222 parliamentary seats up for grabs
-More than 570 candidates
-13.2 million voters
-Barisan Nasional coalition has been in power since 1957
-Prime Minister Najib Razak leads the UMNO, the dominant party in the BN
-Anwar Ibrahim leads the three-party PR opposition alliance

 

While Sabah and Sarawak are government strongholds, the mainland peninsula is home to several closely contested states, such as Selangor near Kuala Lumpur which fell to the opposition in 2008.

"The timing of this surge in arrivals and its sheer size naturally raise the question of whether they have been transported here surreptitiously to vote  in favor of the National Front,'' Anwar said in an emailed statement.

A government spokesman denied the accusation. He said the flights were part of a normal "get out the vote'' campaign and had been paid for by "friends'' of the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition.

The National Front faces a resurgent opposition led by Anwar, who was finance minister in the 1990s and later jailed for six years on corruption and sodomy charges he said were trumped up. It could be the closest election since the Southeast Asian country won independence from Britain in 1957.

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, secretary general of the United Malays National Organization, which dominates the ruling coalition, said the flights were normal  electoral practice.

"The flights in question were organized and paid for by friends of Barisan Nasional. They brought registered voters to their home districts so that they may vote in the upcoming election,'' he said in a statement.

Anwar released what he said were leaked e-mails from Malaysian Airlines officials showing the flag carrier had proposed a schedule to ferry voters and election workers in chartered planes from Sabah and Sarawak to mainland Malaysia.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the documents. Malaysia Airlines declined to comment.

Anwar's alliance surged to its best-ever election result in 2008, gaining support from ethnic Chinese and Indians disillusioned with race-based policies favoring majority Malays and discontent over a lack of political and economic reform.

Sabah is a key entry point for foreigners from the Philippines and Indonesia, who have fuelled a five-fold surge in Sabah's population since the early 1970s and turned it into a vote bank for the ruling coalition.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry is currently under way in Sabah to investigate allegations that immigrants were given identity cards in exchange for voting for the government under a secret plan approved by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad  in the 1980s.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Very Difficult To Say At This Time Whether BN Or Pakatan Will Win But It Will Be Very Close

Parties push last-minute campaigning in Malaysia

Updated 3 May 2013, 15:15 AEST

To the Malaysian elections and with just two days to go until polling begins, both parties are frantic in their last minute campaigning.

Parties push last-minute campaigning in Malaysia (Credit: ABC) 

Regular Connect Asia host Liam Cochrane on the ground in Malaysia.
Presenter: Richard Ewart
Reporter: Liam Cochrane

Click HERE to hear the broadcast.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Claims Malaysia's Opposition Will Create Chaos

Claims Malaysia's opposition will create chaos

Updated 3 May 2013, 15:31 AEST

Malaysia has had just one government since independence 57 years ago and is warning of potential civil unrest if voters throw it out.

Claims Malaysia's opposition will create chaos (Credit: ABC) 

In 2008, the government was shocked when it lost its two-thirds majority in parliament and now its thrown everything at the voters to try to ensure history was repeated.

Penang has been opposition-held since it took five states at the last elections.

Correspondent: Zoe Daniel

Speakers: Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang; Jeff Ooi, DAP candidate; Dr Terence Gomez, Political analyst; Teng Chang Yeow, BN Penang Chief

Listen to the interview HERE

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

WATCH BBC: Nurul Believes Pakatan Can Win On Sunday If Voting Is Free And Fair

2 May 2013 Last updated at 16:41 GMT 

A general election in Malaysia on Sunday could result in the first change of government since the country's independence 56 ago.
During that time the country has been ruled by the same Barisan Nasional coalition, credited with bringing economic development and political stability, but tainted by allegations of corruption.
This time its facing a powerful challenge from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, led by Anwar Ibrahim.
Jonathan Head reports from Kuala Lumpur.

This is part two of the BBC's Malaysian election coverage where we look at the rise of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Watch the video HERE

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

WATCH BBC: What The Opposition Is Up Against

Click HERE to watch the video


PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Win Or Lose, Malaysia Is Changing

Win or lose, Malaysia is changing

Updated 2 May 2013, 21:16 AEST

Whoever wins watershed national elections on Sunday, "the political landscape of Malaysia will never be the same again", says a human rights lawyer and commentator.

A Malaysian armed forces officer has her finger marked with indelible ink before voting early. But there have been claims the ink can be easily washed off. (Credit: AFP) 

Video: Malaysia heads for closest election in decades

Whoever wins watershed national elections on Sunday, "the political landscape of Malaysia will never be the same again", says a human rights lawyer and commentator.

But Edmund Bon says fears are rising over the integrity of the polling process.

Malaysia's election commission is under fire for not acting more decisively about the reported failure of indelible ink to be used on voters' fingers.

Allegations of planned fraud have been also levelled against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

An online news site, Malaysiakini, quoted opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as saying he has documented evidence of chartered flights flying in "dubious voters" who are foreign nationals.

Mr Bon told Sen Lam on Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program that Bersih, the campaign for free and fair elections, raised such allegations much earlier.

 

Audio: Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, of the Malaysian Election Commission, rejects allegations (ABC News)

Voter awareness

"I think these allegations (dubious voters) are now being verified by NGOs (non-government organisations)," he said.

The lawyer writes on a socio-political and legal education blog, Loyar Buruk. Mr Bon is also a key figure behind several voter-awareness initiatives, including Undi-Malaysia.

He said: "The unfortunate thing, of course, is that the (election commission) has lost much of its credibility and whatever it says now, that it (the BN government) is not flying in these so-called foreign people, it's really something that we cannot accept at face value.

"So it needs to verified, but resources are very thin on the ground, and I think the Opposition is trying to get the (flight) manifests and more details on that."

The Election Commission deputy chairman, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, defended it against the allegations. He said it had put in a lot of work to ensure an honest electoral roll, and questioned how "phantom voters" could cast a ballot if their names were not on the roll.

Datuk Omar said the ink used on voters' fingers to prevent double-voting could not be entirely removed through washing.

Edmund Bon said that with allegations flying around, "it's already very tense on the ground, I think, especially among the political parties.

We've been going on the ceramahs (political gatherings) as NGOs and talking to different people, and we can see there's a great amount anticipation, especially for first-time voters on Sunday.

"We hope that there'll be no political violence. We've seen some instances. We hope that everybody will keep rational.

"But we do not know what will happen because this is probably the first time in our history that the ruling coalition is being challenged to this extent."

The lawyer said that in the last two weeks of campaigning, "you're seeing for the first time a lot of young voters coming out, many first-time voters, fence-sitters.

Ethnic identification

"And the issues that we've been talking about, about removing ethnic identification from the registration forms, talking about civil and political rights, are really sinking in with them.

"And they're coming not just to be part of the atmosphere, but they're coming to really listen and get more information.

"You have numbers from 500 onwards, almost every night, to 1,500 in small centres.

"I think this is the first time you've seen people much more aware, due to a lot of different acts of dissent . . . that (have) ignited the imagination of the youth for a new Malaysia."

Does he think Malaysians can sense change on the horizon, whether it is under the BN or under the Pakatan Rakyat?

Mr Bon said: "I think the political landscape of Malaysia will never be the same again. It depends on who you speak to.

"Of course, the urban centres have always been talking about this change. And even if they don't (have) facts to back it up, they're saying you can't have a monopoly of one party for over 50 years.

"The rural areas are much more difficult to read because there are a lot of cash handouts, a lot of different tactics and the education levels are a bit lower than the urban centres."

Topics:

• Asia
• Malaysia

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!

Radio Australia: Anwar To Step Down If He Fails To Wrest Power In GE13

Anwar stakes his future on election

Updated 2 May 2013, 21:20 AEST

Anwar Ibrahim says he will step down if his three-party Malaysian alliance fails to wrest power from the ruling National Front coalition in Sunday's election.

Anwar Ibrahim says momentum among supporters has built early in this election campaign. (Credit: AFP) 

Anwar Ibrahim says he will step down if his three-party Malaysian alliance fails to wrest power from the ruling National Front coalition in Sunday's election.

The 65-year-old former deputy prime minister and finance minister told Reuters: "I'll have given my best.
"And if the people are not ready for change, it's better that you have a post-Anwar situation."

He spoke after campaigning in the western state of Melaka, a National Front stronghold.

Mr Anwar is closer to power than at any time since his meteoric career came crashing down in 1998 when he fell out with the then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, his mentor.

His alliance surged to its best-ever election result in 2008, gaining support from ethnic Chinese and Indians.

Optimistic

The former rising star of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party said he was optimistic about going one better this time.

"What is encouraging compared with 2008 is that we have built the momentum rather early this time."
Anwar, who had long been tipped to succeed Mahathir, was dismissed in 1998 and charged with sodomy and corruption after he clashed with Mahathir over his handling of the Asian financial crisis.

His arrest sparked street protests calling for "reformasi", or reform, that still resonate today, especially for a younger generation eager for change.

Anwar spent six years in solitary confinement and was forced to sit out Malaysia's next two elections before returning to parliament in 2008 with a sweeping by-election victory.

Fresh allegations then surfaced and many expected Anwar's political career to end with a guilty verdict in court. Instead, he was given a new lease of political life when he was acquitted in January 2012.
Anwar has always maintained the charges against him were politically motivated, a view shared by international human rights groups and a majority of Malaysians in opinion polls.

Reuters

Topics:

• Elections
• Malaysia

PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!