Congratulations to Malaysian Reformasi for By Election Victory

My sincere Congratulations to Malaysians & their Reformasi movement. This by-election victory last night is an excellent sign. Malaysian success in Reform will inspire Singaporeans and indirectly induce Reform and Change to take place faster and smoother in Singapore.

I urge fellow Singaporeans to take reference of Malaysian Reformasi and result in moving forward to a new political future for Rep Of Singapore.

:-)


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Malaysia's opposition hails election victories
AFP

Malaysia's opposition hails election victories AFP – Supporters of religious Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) wait for the by-election result at an election …
by Romen Bose Romen Bose – Wed Apr 8, 1:58 am ET

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Malaysia's opposition celebrated Wednesday after big wins in by-elections seen as a rebuke to Prime Minister Najib Razak less than a week after he was sworn into office.

The votes were the first test for Najib and his ambitious agenda to reform the ruling party UMNO -- which represents majority Muslim Malays -- and repair ties with the nation's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Analysts said it provided a snapshot of the public mood one year after the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition was humbled in general elections that saw the opposition gain unprecedented ground.

"It is a referendum on the Barisan Nasional government, on its inability to carry out promises and reforms since the March 8 elections," opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference.

"Our support among the people is clearly increasing," he said of progress made since the 2008 elections, when the opposition won five of Malaysia's 13 states and a third of seats in parliament.

The Barisan Nasional lost two of three by-elections held Tuesday, including a high-profile ballot in northern Perak state for a seat in the national parliament, which the opposition won in a landslide.

The opposition also won a hotly contested vote for a seat in the state parliament of northern Kedah.

In a consolation prize, the coalition won a seat in the state parliament in Sarawak on Borneo island, with a convincing majority that showed it remains the dominant political force in the under-developed region.

Anwar noted that the opposition has now won four of the five by-elections held since the landmark national polls a year ago.

"The results... demonstrate that the people of Malaysia remain committed to change," he said.

Najib's reform promises have been greeted with caution, as his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi failed to implement his own pledges to tackle corruption and repair race relations during his six years in power.

Analysts said the new leader must now quickly implement policy changes which will illustrate that he is serious about change, and win back voters before the next general elections due in 2013.

"He has to be able to tangibly make a difference before Malaysians will swing back support to the coalition," said Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Centre polling firm.

"What it means is that there is no honeymoon, Malaysians want their changes to happen now, and he cannot expect that rhetoric alone will carry the day."

Koh Tsu Koon, president of the Chinese-based Gerakan party which is a member of the coalition, said the results should serve as a call to action for the Barisan Nasional, which has dominated Malaysian politics for half a century.

"Admittedly, the results showed BN has yet to turn the tide in regaining support from the people, especially the non-Malay voters," he said in a statement.

"We should look at the results as a reminder to BN to effect reform more concretely. If so, it might well be a blessing in disguise for BN in the long run."

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