KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s long-ruling coalition yesterday axed four controversial current and former ministers from May 5 elections as it seeks to portray a fresh image for the hotly contested polls.
The regime dominated by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) faces the greatest threat yet to its 56-year rule, with an up-and-coming opposition tapping into discontent over authoritarianism, graft and living costs. On Monday, Prime Minister Najib Razak had promised a “transformational team.”
Nominee lists released yesterday showed that controversial figures dropped included former women’s affairs minister Shahrizat Jalil and current Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen, two female Barisan leaders accused of corruption.
Information Minister Rais Yatim — a target of online abuse for comments seen as opposing free expression — also was axed.
So was former health minister Chua Soi Lek, a leading politician tarnished by a 2007 video that surfaced, showing him having sex with his mistress. Chua is married.
“This is to satisfy the demands of voters who want to see Barisan Nasional and UMNO change and reform,” Najib had said Monday.
The Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition is among the world’s longest-serving governments, its dominance at the ballot box unthreatened since independence in 1957 thanks to decades of economic growth and authoritarian rule. But it is under pressure from a three-party alliance led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim that tripled its number of parliament seats in 2008 and eyes a historic upset. AFP
