MALAYSIA: CAMPAIGNING INTENSIFIES IN RUN-UP TO FORTHCOMING MALAYSIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS

Record ID: 347434

  • Title: MALAYSIA: CAMPAIGNING INTENSIFIES IN RUN-UP TO FORTHCOMING MALAYSIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS
  • Date: 26th November 1999
  • Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (NOVEMBER 26, 1999) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) 1. GV KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTRE TWIN TOWERS 0.03 2. SV OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORTERS ARRIVE IN MOTORCADE 0.09 3. MV OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORTERS ON MOTORCYCLES 0.15 4. SV PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION LEADER LIM KIT SIANG ARRIVES AT RALLY 0.28 5. SLV OPPOSITION PAR
  • Embargoed: 11th December 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KUALA LUMPUR AND KUALA KUBU BARU, MALAYSIA
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Reuters ID: LVA76S17HWFO6FONPRIRMDKE16QC
  • Story Text: In Malaysia, ruling and opposition parties have gone
    all out to court voters on the eve of the country's snap
    elections.

    Malaysia's politicians are stepping up their campaign
    to win votes as the country's frantic eight-day election
    campaign ends on Sunday (November 28).

    Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang on Friday
    (November 26) addressed hundreds of supporters in capital
    Kuala Lumpur.

    Lim's Democratic Action Party (DAP) has joined three
    others, the Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan), Parti Islam
    Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) against
    Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling National Front
    coalition.

    Lim is fighting to deny Mahathir's coalition its
    two-third majority in parliament and has drawn enthusiastic
    support in various appearances across the country.The
    opposition controlled only 22 of 192 seats in the outgoing
    parliament.

    The veteran politician also introduced several new faces
    during his rounds, including social critic and Keadilan deputy
    president Chandra Muzaffar.

    Chandra, who is making his debut in a Kuala Lumpur
    parliamentary ward, said: "It has been very tough.It is the
    first time that I am being involved in an electoral game and I
    must say that I am learning a great deal and I am finding that
    the pace is punishing."
    His opponent from Mahathir's National Front is incumbent
    Tan Chai Ho, who is confident of retaining the ward based on
    the coalition's track record.

    "Barisan Nasional in fact has been proven that this is
    the party that served the country and the people," Tan said.

    Even as the intense campaign draws to a close, some
    voters remain unsure of which camp to vote for.

    A native Orang Asli voter said she might not go to vote
    as politicians are not helping her community.

    "It is very hard.I don't know whether to vote or not.

    If I go and vote on polling day, what would happen if I cross
    all the boxes?" said Mek Indah in her Pertak village, in
    Kuala Kubu Baru, 60km north of Kuala Lumpur.

    Despite waning interest in the election, another
    Keadilan candidate, Zainur Zakaria, continues to canvass for
    votes in a Kuala Lumpur parliamentary ward.

    "Well not bad, quite all right.Well, I can't say very
    much more than that because we are pressed for time and we
    want to do as much as we can," he said during one of his
    rounds in Kuala Lumpur.

    Some 9.6 million voters will cast their ballots in
    Malaysia's 10th elections on Monday (November 29), vying for
    193 parliamentary and 394 state seats.The results will be
    known by early Tuesday (November 30) morning.


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