Malaysian Election Setting New Record

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The coming March 8 general election will mark several "firsts" in the country''s election history with the most significant being the introduction of indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes. Voters going to the polls will have their left index finger painted with special black ink -- a move adopted by the Election Commission (EC) to prevent cheating, following a request from several political parties after the 2004 general election. A total of 47,000 bottles of indelible black ink had been brought in from India, to be applied on the left index finger of 10.9 million registered voters. The use of transparent ballot boxes to replace the black metal boxes is another move by the Commission to further increase the level of transparency in the conduct of elections in the country. Some 50,000 boxes have been distributed throughout the country.
Election-History 2 Kuala Lumpur One can expect not only a transparent electoral process but also absolute secrecy in this election as the EC has done away with serial number on ballot papers. Another first is the rise in the number of children of leaders and former leaders, either from Barisan Nasional (BN) or the opposition, who are contesting in this election. They include the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Mukriz, who is vying for the Jerlun parliamentary seat in Kedah. Also making their debut are the son of former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Datuk Ling Hee Leong (Gopeng); son of former Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Lim Si Pin (Batu); and son of former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, Chua Tee Yong (Labis). The son of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman is also joining the list and is contesting for Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat.
Election-History 3 Kuala Lumpur Also making his debut is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Khairy Jamaluddin, who is vying for the Rembau parliamentary seat. Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is leading the pack on the opposition''s side. She is challenging Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat. Others are DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang''s son Lim Guan Eng (Bagan) and DAP chairman Karpal Singh''s son Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong). The polls also see another first -- the oldest candidate in the country''s election history -- when an 89-year-old woman, Maimun Yusuf, was accepted as an Independent candidate. Maimun is contesting in Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency against incumbent Datuk Razali Ismail (BN), and Mohamad Sabu of Pas. -- MORE Election-History 4 (last) Kuala Lumpur Also for the first time, Pas is fielding a non-Muslim. However, the 29-year old R. Kumutta is contesting under PKR banner in Tiram state seat. She was reported to have said that she would join Pas after the election. There is also a significant increase in the number of women candidates, both from BN and the opposition. BN alone is fielding 67 women for the parliamentary and state seats, an increase of 13 candidates compared to 2004 general election. Another first is the introduction of a report card from BN government. The report card, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi along with the BN manifesto on Monday, spells out the BN government''s achievements in the past four years. The report card will now be evaluated by Malaysians so that they can choose wisely upon casting their votes come polling day