On Sunday 5 May Malaysians will vote in the most hotly contested general election in their country's history.
For the first time since independence in 1957, there is a real possibility that the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak may be defeated by the Pakatan Rakyat alliance nominally headed by Anwar Ibrahim.
Barisan Nasional coalition has led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957 but faces real challenge in Sunday's polls
They are scandals that would spell political death for almost any government leader: allegations of ministerial corruption, a botched handling of a bloody insurgency, widespread accusations of electoral fraud and a murky case involving submarines and large sums of money.
Malaysians are voting on 5 May in a general election expected to be the tightest in the country's history.
The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN, National Front) coalition has held power since independence in 1957.
But it suffered its worst result in decades in the last elections in 2008, ceding five state governments to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.
It also lost a two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysians must ensure the Barisan Nasional (BN) is returned to power with a more than a two-thirds majority in parliament in Sunday's general election to enable the government to be in a strong position to govern the nation, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The former prime minister said BN needed a resounding victory to facilitate coalition to implement all the policies that have been planned for the people's well-being and the nation's prosperity.
Sabah PKR was rocked by defections after four division chiefs quit the party, claiming that the party did not respect the promised autonomy to its state leaders.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is nothing but a great debater who can make people believe almost everything he says
Sabah PKR was rocked by defections after four division chiefs quit the party, claiming that the party did not respect the promised autonomy to its state leaders.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is nothing but a great debater who can make people believe almost everything he says
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Barisan Nasional election candidate list is final and no more changes will be allowed.
He urged all component parties to throw their support for the candidates selected by the party leaders. He said he understands their frustration but urged them not to do anything rash.
The parliament in Malaysia has been dissolved and the gloves are off as political leaders gear up for a fight over corruption, discrimination and the cost of living.
Parliamentary polls will pit the National Front Coalition, which is in power since 1957, against a resurgent opposition.
The ruling group has already been knocked back, suffering its worst ever results in 2008 elections. And it will not be plain sailing this time either.
Malaysians living in south Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and in Kalimantan, Indonesia will have to return home to vote in the 13th general election, the Election Commission (EC) said.
EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said they were not entitled to the postal voting facilities for Malaysians living abroad. For south Thailand, those living in the Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla and Satun provinces would be affected.
The Election Commission (EC) will appoint observers from several Asean countries to monitor the coming general election, said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.
The EC, through a selected panel set up on the advice of Wisma Putra, was expected to appoint observers from Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand, apart from several observers from the Asean secretariat itself, he said.
In a run-up to highly anticipated national elections, an estimated 100,000 people supporting the political opposition thronged Merdeka Stadium in the national capital for a rally organizers referred to as a "people's uprising".
Signaling a potential shift in government tack, unlike previous rallies where the call had been for reform of election rules and procedures, the event was not suppressed by security officials.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party is seeking three more parliamentary and 10 extra state seats in Penisular Malaysia for the next general election.
Lim said Pakatan Rakyat partners PKR and PAS should agree to this if they recognised DAP's loyalty to the Opposition coalition.
It is now almost three years since Najib Abdul Razak took over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as prime minister.
He has performed a slew of legislative reforms, set out major economic and education plans but has not yet taken the step to call for Malaysia's 13th general election.
Following the timeframe the constitution sets out, Najib has the autonomy to call elections before April 21, after which the Elections Commission has the prerogative and must call elections within 60 days.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday called on the people to give their full mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for another five-year term to secure a better future for themselves and the country.
He said this was because the BN government had varied experience in administering the country since 55 years ago compared to the opposition pact which had no basic understanding in charting a good direction for the country.
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has welcomed calls by delegates at PAS’ 58th muktamar that he be appointed the prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat came to power in the next general election.
I ask God’s help that Islam will be the eventual winner
