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.