KL to tighten election laws

KL to tighten election laws

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia will tighten laws to ensure the electoral process is kept free of untoward incidents, a minister said in remarks published on Friday.

Rais Yatim, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs, said ugly incidents during two by- elections last year had "taught us to be more prepared for future incidents".

On the polling day during one of the by-elections, opposition officials blocked busloads of government supporters from entering the town, claiming they were "phantom" voters brought in to vote fraudulently.

The opposition candidate won the seat but nine opposition officials were charged with rioting, punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine.