Zhu to visit KL before polls

Zhu to visit KL before polls

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji will visit Malaysia for two days this month in the midst of an election campaign in which his Malaysian counterpart is counting on support from ethnic Chinese for victory.

Zhu is scheduled to be in Malaysia on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 before going to Manila for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an aide to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said.

The Chinese leader will arrive in Malaysia one week before snap general elections that could prove to be Mahathir's toughest since winning power 18 years ago.

Mahathir is counting on strong support from Malaysia's ethnic Chinese minority in the election to help offset defections by Muslim Malays who are upset over the sacking and imprisonment of former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim.