Opposition urges snap poll to end Malaysian crisis<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia's opposition leader urged
\nPrime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday to call a snap election
\nto help resolve the nation's worsening political crisis.<\/p>\n
Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader Lim Kit Siang said the
\ncrisis, worsened by the sacking and detention of finance minister
\nAnwar Ibrahim, could derail Malaysia's efforts to put its
\nrecession-hit economy back on track.<\/p>\n
\"The DAP calls for an immediate resolution of the ballooning
\npolitical crisis in Malaysia without which there can be no full
\nconfidence restoration to effect the speediest economic
\nturnaround,\" he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\"One way to resolve the political crisis is for Mahathir to
\ndissolve parliament and call for new general elections to seek a
\nclear national mandate from the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"There is a great political effervescence among Malaysians who
\nhunger for change...,\" Lim said.<\/p>\n
\"This political effervescence for political change and reforms
\ndid not begin on Sept. 2 when Anwar Ibrahim was sacked in a most
\nshocking and unprecedented manner.\"<\/p>\n
General elections need not be called until April 2000.<\/p>\n
Mahathir's ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition
\nhas a four-fifths majority in parliament.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, police arrested at least 241 people after clashes
\nbetween riot police and protesters in the heart of the capital.
\nTwo policemen and 12 protesters were injured in the most violent
\nof the street demonstrations that began on Sept. 20 when Anwar
\nled 30,000 protesters through the streets of the capital
\ndemanding an end to Mahathir's 17-year rule.<\/p>\n
Anwar has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges of sodomy and
\ncorruption. His trial on four of the five corruption counts
\nbegins next Monday.<\/p>\n
A senior cabinet minister rejected on Monday calls by human
\nrights and opposition groups for Mahathir to resign and hold
\nearly polls after violent street protests in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"Who are they? Only the people can decide to replace the prime
\nminister in an election,\" Information Minister Mohamad Rahmat
\ntold AFP on the sidelines of a meeting of Commonwealth
\njournalists addressed by Mahathir.<\/p>\n
\"For as long as the people still support the prime minister, I
\nthink the others shouldn't interfere. We've got bigger things to
\ndo. We are talking about the future of the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Anwar's wife said on Monday violent riots over the
\nweekend were sparked by growing frustration with police brutality
\nand the 17-year rule of Mahathir.<\/p>\n
Azizah Ismail, called the rioting \"a violent tragedy,\" and a
\n\"manifestation of the people's anger toward Dr. Mahathir, which
\ncould not be contained any longer.\"<\/p>\n
She warned that more disruptions could break out.<\/p>\n
\"They have no other avenue,\" Azizah told reporters, adding she
\nbelieved demonstrators acted out of self-defense after being
\nprovoked by riot police.<\/p>\n
\"Trouble may probably occur if the people have to defend
\nthemselves from the brutal actions of the riot squad.\"<\/p>\n
Azizah, who was appointed by Anwar to lead his reform movement
\nwhile he is in custody, denied any role in organizing Saturday's
\nprotests.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Chris Patten, Hong Kong's last colonial governor,
\nvoiced his support for Anwar, while his wife paid a house call to
\nAzizah.<\/p>\n
\"He is a friend of mine and to many around the world,\" Patten
\ntold a group of international editors. \"The whole world will be
\nwatching what happens in his case.\"<\/p>\n
Patten compared Anwar to Myanmar's dissident leader Aung San
\nSuu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/opposition-urges-snap-poll-to-end-malaysian-crisis-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}