Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has started a new round of nationwide tours, according to reports Sunday, in the clearest indication yet that national elections are imminent.
Abdullah, who has been tight-lipped on the polling date, has had his hands full with unprecedented street protests, a slowing economy and public anger over high fuel and food prices.
However, the New Straits Times newspaper in a front page spread said members of his Barisan Nasional (BN) race-based coalition government believe the election could probably be held in March.
It cited Abdullah's tours, along with an upcoming meeting on Monday of all BN leaders and another on Tuesday with heads of his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, as evidence of election preparations.
"Given that the economy is on track and commodity prices are high, benefitting a large portion of the BN-supportive electorate, senior BN members feel the time is right to go to the polls," it reported, without naming the officials.
However, Abdullah's government is still coming to terms with street rallies which kicked off in November with a 30,000-strong protest calling for electoral reform, followed by a gathering of 8,000 people alleging discrimination against ethnic Indian Malaysians.
Five organisers of the rally were later detained without trial under tough internal security legislation.
Public anger is also running high over fuel price hikes and spiralling food prices, with forecasters predicting slow growth of 5.4 percent this year from 6.1 percent in 2007.
Election officials say at least 10.5 million voters will be eligible to vote in the upcoming polls.
Agence France-Presse - 1/20/2008
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