Malaysian PM tips election losses

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23, 2008 (AFP) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has conceded that the ruling coalition is unlikely to score a repeat of its 2004 landslide victory in the next general elections.

Abdullah is expected to hold a ballot in March, but faces an array of negative factors including public anger over rising food and fuel prices, unprecedented street protests, and problems within coalition parties.

Asked if he was confident of the 14-party National Front coalition repeating its stunning 2004 election victory, Abdullah said: "I don't think so. If I get (a repeat), I'll be very, very happy, (but) I'm very practical."

According to the state Bernama news agency, Abdullah said late Tuesday that the 2004 results garnered after he replaced former leader Mahathir Mohamad were an exception as the change had brought about high hopes.

"There were high expectations, a lot of things to change, but I cannot change everything and there was an expectation," he said in acknowledgement of feelings that he has failed to fulfil some of his core promises.

"This has to be done, that has to be done. It's not that we have not done anything, I've started to implement practically everything that I promised," he said.

"I have started to do it and it is in the process of being implemented. That's what we are doing."

The government has been shaken by rare public demonstrations which erupted last November, targeting a variety of causes including alleged discrimination against Malaysia's ethnic Indians, and electoral reform.

There is also discontent over the government's warning it will have to remove costly fuel subsidies, and anger over spiralling food prices and periodic shortages of staples including flour and oil.

After a resounding victory in 2004, which reversed losses made in 1999, commentators say the pendulum is likely to swing against the government again.

The ruling United Malays National Organisation has led the National Front coalition in government for half a century.

Malaysia urges global community to make Israel lift blockade on Gaza

AP - Wednesday, January 23

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia, which chairs the world's largest Islamic bloc, urged the global community Tuesday to make Israel lift its blockade of Gaza strip before it turns into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who chairs the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference, condemned the blockade and the closing of all border closings between Israel and Gaza as "inhumane."

"The Palestinians have the right of access to food, fuel and medicine. The inhumane action by the Israelis would make the living conditions of the Palestinian people even more unbearable," Abdullah said in a statement.

The blockade has "exacerbated the already worsening humanitarian crisis in the area and this will cause a humanitarian catastrophe," he warned.

Abdullah also called on the United Nations to hold an open-ended session of the U.N. Security Council so that other countries could participate on the debate on Gaza.

Israeli has already eased the blockade _ imposed in response to a sharp increase in rocket attacks by Palestinian militants _ after Gaza's Hamas government and aid agencies warned of an impending humanitarian crisis.

On Tuesday, Israel delivered fuel for Gaza's only power plant, which provides electricity to about one-third of Gaza's 1.5 million residents. Other areas of Gaza are supplied directly by Israel and Egypt, neither of which cut off service.

Malaysia PM says repeat of massive 2004 mandate unlikely in next polls

By EILEEN NG,Associated Press Writer AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's leader said Tuesday his coalition would not be able to repeat its huge electoral success of 2004, as he stepped up preparations for the next polls, widely expected in March.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition won 196 of the 219 parliamentary seats in the 2004 elections, held about five months after he took over the reins from Mahathir Mohamad who had been in office for 22 years.

Abdullah said the previous results "were exceptional." The massive mandate Abdullah received was largely attributed to the euphoria over a new beginning and his promises of a more open, efficient and clean government.

Asked if he could match the 2004 results, Abdullah said, "I don't think so. If I get, I will be very happy. I am being very, very practical."

He was speaking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with middle-level leaders of his United Malays National Organization, the dominant party in the National Front coalition. The front is made up of 14 parties representing the different ethnic groups in this multiracial nation, but most power is with UMNO, which represents the majority Muslim Malays.

Tuesday's meeting came a day after Abdullah met with top members of National Front's constituents.

Abdullah refused to say when he would call elections, or what sort of results he expects. The National Front has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957 and is expected to win again easily.

Abdullah said he reminded the UMNO workers that they should not do anything to damage the party's name.

"We want to get the mandate to continue our work to implement what we have done," Abdullah said.

The comments indicated that the party is gearing for snap elections, which are not due until mid-2009. Local media have reported that the polls will most likely be held during school holidays in mid-March, when school buildings would be required for use as polling booths.

He acknowledged there are shortcomings in the government and problems in the country.

"There were expectations for a lot of things to change. But I cannot change everything. There was expectation that this has to be done, that has to be done. It is not that we haven't done anything. I have begun implementing practically everything that I have promised," he said.

Among the biggest challenges facing the government are inflation, rising crime and tensions in the society because of frustrations among minority Indians, who feel they are not getting a fair share of the national wealth.

However, Indians form only 8 percent of the population and do not have enough clout or numbers to drastically effect the poll results.

Separately, Mahathir told reporters that the National Front "will surely win."

"No doubt about that. I don't know about the percentage ... but it will be a substantial victory," he said.