Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dissolved parliament in preparation for a general election, 15 months before his five-year term expires.
The country's election commission will set a date for the voting, Abdullah told reporters in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur. An election must be held within 60 days.
The election is a gamble for Abdullah, who led the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to its biggest parliamentary victory in 2004. The country's Indian minority has taken to the streets to protest discrimination, and critics have said Abdullah failed keep a pledge to crack down on corruption.
``Unless he can regain the political initiative fast and win big in the forthcoming elections,'' said Andrew Aeria, a political analyst for the London School of Economics and IdeaGlobal, ``he will face a serious challenge to his leadership of UMNO very soon.''
While the ruling coalition is certain to win the election, a stronger opposition performance could threaten Abdullah's leadership of the United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO.
``Pledges were made and people want to see if they are being implemented,'' said Ramon Navaratnam, president of anti- corruption group Transparency International Malaysia, of Abdullah's promises to clean up the government.
Abdullah, whose coalition won 90 percent of parliament's seats in 2004, plans to win a two-thirds majority this time round, he said today. The opposition says that dominance hampers Malaysia's democratic development.
`Too Big'
``In the last four years, all the promises have been broken,'' Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary opposition leader and lawmaker for Malaysia's Democratic Action Party, said today. ``The only way for Malaysia to have a first-world parliament is to break the two-thirds majority.''
Analysts said he also wants to hold the election before his government decreases gasoline subsidies and pump prices rise.
The government, which spent about 35 billion ringgit ($11 billion) last year on fuel and gas subsidies, is ``under pressure'' from rising oil prices, Abdullah said on Nov. 5.
The early election means that Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister who now leads the opposition People's Justice Party, will not be in the race. Anwar can't run for public office until five years after he finished a sentence for a 1999 conviction for corruption, which expires in mid-April.
Racial Tension
Anwar spent six years in jail for corruption and sodomy, charges he denies, after he was fired by then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. The sodomy conviction was overturned in 2004.
Racial and religious issues have marred Abdullah's four years of leading the multi-ethnic nation. In May, a Malaysian woman who renounced Islam lost a bid to get the government to recognize her conversion to Christianity, in a case critics said tested freedom of religion in the nation.
The government's jailing of demonstrators calling for electoral reform and protesting alleged racial discrimination in late 2007 has also threatened support for Abdullah's coalition of Malay, Chinese and Indian-based political parties. UMNO, the party representing ethnic Malays, leads the coalition.
At least four demonstrations have been held since November, with the government arresting five members of the Hindu Rights Action Force under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial, in December.
Anwar's Video
``There is tremendous pressure on Abdullah to act decisively,'' said Aeria. ``Within UMNO, there are suggestions that if he does not act sternly, he is a weak leader who is not able to protect the Malay race.''
Concern over careless government spending has also risen. A September report by the Auditor General showed government ministries overspent millions of dollars on equipment ranging from patrol boats to pens.
The same month, Anwar released a video recording purportedly showing a lawyer attempting to fix judiciary appointments. The government formed a royal commission to investigate the video.
To boost growth and popular support, Abdullah has announced public development projects amounting to 200 billion ringgit over the five years to 2010, and unveiled plans to lure billions more to special economic zones throughout the country.
He's also cut corporate tax, freed up money from retirement funds to boost spending, and announced tax exemptions for Chinese, Tamil and religious schools, in what analysts described as efforts to win back waning support.
Malaysia's economic growth may weaken in 2008 to 5.4 percent from an estimated 6.1 percent last year amid a global slowdown caused by the U.S. housing recession, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research said Jan. 17. The government expects growth to accelerate to as much as 6.5 percent in 2008 from an estimated 6 percent last year.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir, who picked Abdullah as his successor, has said he should step down after one term.
``The people need to make the necessary changes in Barisan Nasional,'' Mahathir said Jan. 30, predicting that the opposition will win additional seats in the next election.
Finally the general election is confirmed to be held in March. Like what the article above mentioned, according to the federal constitution of Malaysia, election will be held within 60 days after the parliament is being dissolved. Looking at the customs in Malaysia, normally the campaigning period will not be more than 20 days. Therefore most of the prediction spot on as general election will fall on the month of March. Who will you be voting for? For me, I guess it's certain that those forgetful people will not win my vote. God bless Malaysia~
