Arabic Video News in English

The twelfth Malaysian election pits Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition against three main opposition parties, the left-leaning Democratic Action Party (DAP), the Islamist party Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) and former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim’s Party Keadilan (PKR). Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, joins the programme.We asked him about rising prices, growing ethnic tensions and whether or not he can maintain a crucial two-thirds parliamentary majority.

We discuss the up coming elections in Malaysia. Although the party of current prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to win the key question may be whether or not the balloting will be free and fair and if the country’s more than 10 million registered voters will turn out. Widespread reports of ‘phantom voter lists’ coupled with a virtual media blackout of opposition candidates has raised speculation that disaffected Malaysians may opt out all together.

Election rallies in Malaysia and the women’s manifesto. Moroccan middle distance runner trains for Beijing.

Political protest is rare in Malaysia, yet the recent protests have been with force.

Political protest is rare in Malaysia, yet the recent protests have been with force.