Malaysia’s election scandals

 

(Al Jazeera) – We discuss some of the vote irregularities being alleged as ruling coalition takes power for a record 13th time.

Watch the video with Bridget Welsh, Nurul Izzah and Azman Ujang at: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/05/201357734274202.html or click on the picture above

One of Malaysia’s most hotly contested elections has returned the ruling coalition to power. Prime Minister Najib Razak had staked his political future on strengthening his alliance’s majority in Parliament.

But his standing has been weakened – and he is promising to engage in dialogue with his political opponents. That has since been rejected – with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim pressing for a rally in two days to protest against the results.

Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi reported, “The narrower margin means Najib’s administration has its work cut out for it. A youth leader in the coalition’s dominant Umno party acknowledged that in a tweet on Monday. He wrote that the victory was only a reprieve and that a failure to deliver on the change that people want could mean the end for the National Front come the next general election”

There were two main personalities in this election, and Razak was one of them.

He has has been Malaysia’s prime minister since 2009. At 23, he became the youngest member of parliament in Malaysian history and quickly rose to prominence.

He is part of a political dynasty, with his father and uncle both former prime ministers. Under his leadership, the government repealed the controversial Internal Security Act. But critics say the new laws remain repressive and still allow for abuses.

Najib also promised to reform pro-Malay policies, though many of them remain in place.

Read more and watch the video at: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/05/201357734274202.html