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Malaysia opposition cries foul in Anwar by-election
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-25 14:58 While most analysts agree that Anwar is likely to come out victorious, they say he could struggle to woo enough defectors to unseat the ruling coalition that has ruled Malaysia since 1957. Government leaders played down the prospects , saying that there were no immediate signs that any of their 140 lawmakers would jump ship to Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat alliance. He needs a sizeable 30 defectors to unseat the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, a level many say a near impossible despite cracks within the 14-party coalition following a March general elections. Anwar has insisted that his goal of forming a new government by September 16 was still on track and has promised to bring widespread reforms to the judiciary and governance, and to take urgent measures to boost the economy and shield people from rising prices. Anwar's push for power has unsettled many investors, some of whom fear the process could bring a period of prolonged economic uncertainty and some are concerned that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition will resort to populist economic policies. |
