Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Military Space News .




DEMOCRACY
Malaysia's election results stand firm
by Staff Writers
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (UPI) May 10, 2013


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Malaysia's election results will stand despite protests that sent thousands of Malaysians onto the streets and filled a soccer stadium.

Prime Minister Najib Razak's governing Barisan Nasional -- National Front -- party won 133 of the 222 seats in Parliament but the result was quickly decried by opposition leaders.

It was the National Front's 13th consecutive general election victory since Malaysia gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.

The Front has held as much as 90 percent of parliamentary seats in the country of 28 million people with Islamic, Chinese, Indian and Western cultures.

But the party -- a loose coalition of more than 13 small and regional political parties that was formed in 1973 -- lost its two-thirds majority of seats in 2008 and failed in Sunday's polling to recoup the loses.

The election result brought a swift condemnation from the major opposition coalition of three parties, Pakatan Rakyat -- People's Alliance -- led by Anwar Ibrahim.

Ibrahim defied police warnings that his protest in the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya near Kuala Lumpur was illegal.

During the night-time protest, he called for rotating demonstrations around the country.

Ibrahim, 65, reportedly told the crowd that "BN has robbed the rights of the people," Malaysia's national news agency Bernama reported. "We will prove that they lied in 30 parliamentary seats."

But Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the "unhappy candidate" could apply for a review of the result by making a petition after the result was published officially by the commission.

"After the result is gazetted, he has 21 days to file a petition and if there is proof and the judge admitted the existence of corruption, fraud or illegal acts, the High Court judge will declare the election result invalid.

"Only then a re-election will be called. A rally such as the one tonight won't change anything," Abdul Aziz told Radio24.

Aziz also rejected opposition claims that the commission helped parties to win, Bernama reported.

A report by the BBC said up to 40,000 protesters attended the stadium rally, with many dressed in mourning black.

Their complaints ranged from the use of indelible ink in polling booths. Although it is meant to prevent multiple voting, it could be washed off easily.

Also, there were many accounts of a government scheme to fly tens of thousands of "dubious," possibly foreign, voters to vote in some constituencies, the BBC report said.

In a White House statement, U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated Razak on his election victory and the people of Malaysia, who turned out in record numbers to cast their votes.

The statement praised the parties of the opposition coalition on their campaigns that helped to underpin democracy in their country.

But the White House also said "it is important that Malaysian authorities address (polling) concerns that have been raised."

.


Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








DEMOCRACY
Imran: Cricket star poised for political breakthrough
Islamabad (AFP) May 8, 2013
Retired cricket legend Imran Khan is a political juggernaut batting to win a major breakthrough after 17 years on the sidelines and take troubled Pakistan in a new direction. A hero to millions across the cricket-obsessed nation for winning Pakistan its only World Cup in 1992, the 60-year-old has sporting prowess, rugged good looks and international celebrity in a country sadly lacking glamo ... read more


DEMOCRACY
U.S. seeks $220 million for Israel missile defense

Pentagon requests more funding for Israel's 'Iron Dome'

Lockheed Martin PAC-3 Missile Intercepts and Destroys Tactical Ballistic Missile in New Test

Japan's missile defence plan: some facts

DEMOCRACY
Taiwan renews call on China to remove missiles

Syria: Israel blasts Hezbollah's missile chain

Lockheed Martin's Nemesis Missile Scores 3-For-3 in Flight Tests

Guam heightens alert level after N. Korea threats

DEMOCRACY
Iran unveils new attack drone

Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Conduct First Arrested Landing of X-47B Unmanned Demonstrator

Outside View: Drones: Say it with figures

ESA-EDA Flight Demonstration On Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Insertion Into Civil Airspace

DEMOCRACY
Department of Defense looking to allow Apple, Samsung devices

DARPA Seeks Clean-Slate Ideas For Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Astrium's secure milsatcoms now cover the world

Gilat to Equip IDF with SatTrooper-1000 Military Manpack

DEMOCRACY
Germany says will sell 164 tanks to Indonesia

Files posted online to 'print' working handgun

Northrop Grumman Selected to Complete JCREW I1B1 Development

DARPA Announces Winner of the First FANG Challenge

DEMOCRACY
AgustaWestland remains a bidder for Indian deal

Australia holds the line on defense budget

France told to cut back on military pomp and ceremony

Pentagon plans to cut civilian workforce

DEMOCRACY
India FM seeks to build China ties after border row

China should 'reconsider' who owns Okinawa: academics

India FM in China visit after border row

Beijing says US defence report hypes China threat

DEMOCRACY
Going negative pays for nanotubes

Researchers develop unique method for creating uniform nanoparticles

Dark field imaging of rattle-type silica nanorattles coated gold nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

'Super-resolution' microscope possible for nanostructures




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement