MALAYSIA: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he is 'cautiously optimistic' of the outcome of upcoming election

Record ID: 858189

  • Title: MALAYSIA: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he is 'cautiously optimistic' of the outcome of upcoming election
  • Date: 3rd April 2013
  • Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (APRIL 3, 2013) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC ON STREET PUBLIC BUS POLITICAL PARTY FLAGS ALONG STREET ARRIVAL OF MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ANWAR IBRAHIM PEOPLE'S JUSTICE PARTY LOGO REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ANWAR IBRAHIM SAYING: "We have worked very hard and I am rather cautiously optimistic of the outcome seen from the massive response of the rakyat (people in Bahasa Malaysia)." PEOPLE'S JUSTICE PARTY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MOHAMED AZMIN ALI LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ANWAR IBRAHIM SAYING: "For the rakyat (people) they would say: 'enough of corruption, enough of racism, enough of abuse of power'. And I believe generally Malaysians are prepared for change." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER, ANWAR IBRAHIM SAYING: "We remain committed to champion the course of common folk, the young, of all racial groups and religious denominations." REPORTERS ANWAR SPEAKING VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF THE PARTY'S HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Malaysia
  • City:
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7AXYHHHZWKME5K8OM7X606CD
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  • Story Text: Malaysian opposition leader said on Wednesday (April 3) he was "cautiously optimistic" after the country's parliament was dissolved to pave way for a hotly contested poll.

    "We have worked very hard and I am rather cautiously optimistic of the outcome seen from the massive response of the rakyat (people in Bahasa Malaysia)," said Anwar Ibrahim.
    Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for a general election expected this month that could be the most closely contested his ruling coalition has faced in its 56-year rule.
    The opposition - a sometimes fractious alliance including a secular ethnic Chinese party and an Islamist party - aims to tap into a growing desire for faster political and economic reform, arguing it is time for a change.

    "For the people they would say: 'enough of corruption, enough of racism, enough of abuse of power'. And I believe generally Malaysians are prepared for change," said Anwar.
    Najib faces a confident opposition alliance led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and is under intense pressure to restore his ruling coalition's two-thirds majority that it lost for the first time in a disastrous 2008 poll.
    Race-based social and economic policies have defined the coalition's rule as it channelled wealth to ethnic Malays, who make up about half of the population.
    Anwar said, the opposition coalition is committed to eliminate the race-based policy in the country that has a history of tensions between majority Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.

    "We remain committed to champion the course of common folks, the young, of all racial groups and religious denominations," said Anwar.
    A win for Anwar's opposition is unlikely but not impossible, and would put the former British colony into uncharted political territory.
    The ruling BN coalition will be helped by a skewed electoral system, deep pockets, and about $2 billion in government handouts to millions of poorer Malaysians since the start of 2012. But Najib will likely face a leadership challenge from within UMNO if he fails to improve on the 2008 performance.
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