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Malaysian Islamists warn of tension ahead of elections
Malaysia's hardline Islamic opposition party has warned its supporters could "run amok" if the election authorities block its candidates from standing in next month's general election.
- Reuters
- Published: 01:13 February 24, 2008
Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia: Malaysia's hardline Islamic opposition party has warned its supporters could "run amok" if the election authorities block its candidates from standing in next month's general election.
Saying that Malaysia should avoid post-election violence that gripped Kenya, leaders of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) told a rally late on Friday that the March 8 election could turn into one of the country's dirtiest.
"We anticipate this election will not be free and fair," party leader Syed Azman Syed Ahmad told the 5,000-strong rally in Kuala Terengganu, the northeastern city that saw a violent anti-government protest last September.
On September 8, police opened fire to disperse rioters at a rally demanding electoral reforms, wounding two PAS members. Twenty-three people were arrested.
With the exception of 1969, when a divisive poll led to the country's worst race riots, Malaysian elections have largely been peaceful.
The Barisan Nasional coalition, effectively in office since independence from Britain in 1957, is widely expected to hold on to power in the March 8 poll, though with a reduced majority.
The Election Commission denies the electoral system favours Barisan Nasional, but the opposition says electoral boundaries are drawn unfairly and electoral rolls stuffed with "phantom voters".
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