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Putrajaya: Malaysia's prime minister yesterday announced early general elections, which his ruling coalition is expected to win easily but with a reduced majority.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters that the constitutional monarch approved the dissolution of Parliament, paving the way for the national polls. The assemblies in the 12 states and territories will also go to polls.
Elections must be conducted within 60 days after Parliament is dissolved, but typically they are held sooner. Nomination and polling dates would be announced by the Election Commission today.
Abdullah, who succeeded long-time leader Mahathir Mohamad in 2003, led his National Front coalition to a landslide victory in 2004 when it won 200 of the 219 parliamentary seats.
But coalition leaders acknowledge they are unlikely to win 90 per cent of the seats because of growing public dissatisfaction over rising prices, crime and complaints of discrimination by the Chinese and Indian minorities. "2004 was a special record," Abdullah said.
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