Malaysia

Malaysia's Najib unveils new Cabinet after bruising election

Kyodo News International — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:17:10 +0000

Kyodo News International

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak unveiled his new Cabinet on Wednesday that he hoped wins back public confidence after his coalition won the national election but with a reduced vote.

Touted as a "transformational Cabinet," the line-up, he said, includes "the experienced, the technocrats and those that represent the youth."

Malaysian PM unveils 'reconciliation' cabinet

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:46:57 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Malaysia's premier on Wednesday unveiled a cabinet line-up which he said would help national reconciliation after a racially divisive election, but which was noticeably light on Chinese faces.

Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, which has ruled multiracial Malaysia for 56 years, fended off the strongest opposition challenge ever in an election marked by anger over racially divisive policies.

Malaysian vote was 'mother of all frauds'

Agence France-Presse — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:30:28 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Saturday called Malaysia's recent elections "the mother of all frauds" as he kept up the pressure over polls he says were stolen by the 56-year-old regime.

Anwar addressed tens of thousands in the opposition-governed northern state of Penang three days after a massive rally in the capital Kuala Lumpur kicked off a series of protest gatherings.

Anwar has branded the May 5 elections -- won by the Barisan Nasional (National Front) ruling coalition -- a heist by Prime Minister Najib Razak and accused the Election Commission (EC) of bias.

Protests raise pressure in 'polarised' Malaysia

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:29:19 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A planned wave of protests over disputed Malaysian elections is the most provocative challenge to the government in years, upping pressure on a long-ruling regime already smarting from the polls.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim offered a preview of the movement's potential Wednesday when he rallied a huge display of citizen power in Kuala Lumpur estimated to number up to 100,000 people.

Malaysia's Anwar calls for nationwide protest tour

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:50:50 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called a protest tour over elections he says the ruling regime stole, as the White House urged authorities to "address concerns" about voter fraud.

Anwar late Wednesday addressed a rally of supporters dressed in black, to protest Sunday's polls, who filled a stadium and spilled out into surrounding areas, swamping a corner of the capital Kuala Lumpur in hours-long gridlock.

Malaysian gov't slams opposition for stirring unrest over poll results

Kyodo News International — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:45:26 +0000

Kyodo News International

The Malaysian government slammed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for attempting to create unrest as tens of thousands supporters rallied late Wednesday to protest the recently concluded election, which Anwar claims was riddled with irregularities.

The supporters, almost all clad in black to mark what some called "the death of democracy," covered every inch of a stadium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur to protest Sunday's election that was won by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 13-party National Front coalition.

White House congratulates Malaysia on election

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:10:51 +0000

Agence France-Presse

The White House Wednesday called on Malaysia to address "concerns" about an election which drew opposition claims of fraud but nevertheless congratulated the governing party's winning candidate.

"We note concerns regarding reported irregularities in the conduct of the election, and believe it is important that Malaysian authorities address concerns that have been raised," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

"We look forward to the outcome of their investigations."

Malaysia's Anwar calls for nationwide protest tour

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:30:07 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Vowing to "never surrender", opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called on Malaysians Wednesday to join in a nationwide protest tour against elections he said were stolen from the country's people.

Anwar addressed a sea of supporters dressed in mourning black who filled a football stadium and spilled out into surrounding areas, swamping a suburb of the capital Kuala Lumpur in a gathering with a rock-concert atmosphere.

"We will go to every corner of this country," Anwar declared, prompting roars from the crowd.

"We will continue to struggle and we will never surrender!"

Malaysian gov't slams Anwar for stirring unrest over poll results

Kyodo News International — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:33:03 +0000

Kyodo News International

The Malaysian government slammed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for attempting to create unrest as his supporters gear up for a major rally later Wednesday to protest the recently concluded election, which Anwar claims was riddled with irregularities.

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters are expected to gather at a stadium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening to protest Sunday's election that was won by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 13-party National Front coalition.

Malaysia opposition has narrow lead ahead of election

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:09:17 +0000

Thomson Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition enjoys a very narrow lead over the long ruling National Front for the first time in a key poll issued on Friday, two days before an election in the Southeast Asian country.

The survey carried out by the Merdeka Center also revealed a broad decline in support for Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose National Front has held power since independence from Britain in 1957.

Malaysia's "class war" fuels opposition election hopes

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:04:25 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Niluksi Koswanage

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Boasting a fast-growing economy and riding a $2.6 billion deluge of government handouts to poorer voters, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak would seem to have the recipe for electoral success on Sunday.

Instead he faces what some say is a class war between aspiring young Malays and ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities against the rich, powerful and long-ruling Malay elite.

Anwar vows to reform Malaysia election system

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:56:53 +0000

Thomson Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim vowed on Tuesday to lead a "fierce movement" to reform the country's electoral system and challenge the results of an election he lost, starting with a rally of supporters this week.

Anwar has refused to accept the victory of the long-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in Sunday's election, saying that the result was tainted by widespread fraud, including the use of foreign immigrants to vote for the governing alliance.

Anwar vows 'fierce movement' to reform Malaysia election system

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:50:19 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Siva Sithraputhran

Anwar has contested the results of the most closely fought election since Malaysia was engulfed in race riots in 1969, accusing the ruling party of fraud, including use of immigrants as proxy voters, charges the government denies.

Malaysian stocks, currency surge on ruling coalition election win

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:46:58 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Yantoultra Ngui and Jongwoo Cheon

KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Malaysian stocks surged nearly 8 percent to a record high and the local currency jumped to its strongest in 20 months on Monday after the Barisan National (BN) coalition extended its 56-year rule and fended off a strong opposition challenge that had unnerved investors.

Prime Minister Najib Razak's BN won 133 seats in the 222-member parliament, well short of the two-thirds majority it lost in 2008.

Malaysia PM faces limited future after worst electoral showing

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:40:57 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Niluksi Koswanage and Stuart Grudgings

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak may have to step down by the end of the year, ruling party sources said on Monday, after his coalition extended its 56-year rule but recorded its worst-ever election performance.