The Malaysian Prime Minister, Mr Mahathir Mohamad, yesterday announced a snap election and predicted he would retain a two-thirds majority of seats in what is seen as his biggest political test since he won power 18 years ago. Mr Mahathir confirmed that parliament would be dissolved today, paving the way for Malaysia's 10th general elections since it won independence from Britain in 1957.
The Election Commission said it would set the dates for both nominations and polling tomorrow. Elections are expected by December 4th and some 9.7 million people are eligible to vote.
Parliament's five-year term does not expire until next year, but Mr Mahathir wants to capitalise on an economic recovery and hold elections before more than 650,000 new voters, many of them young and sympathetic to the opposition, join the electorate in early 2000.
Mr Mahathir's coalition is expected to win the elections, but the opposition hopes to capitalise on dissatisfaction over the sacking and jailing of Mr Mahathir's former deputy, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, on charges of sodomy, seen by many as trumped up.
The opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader, Mr Lim Kit Siang, said it was "scandalous and outrageous" for parliament to be dissolved in mid-session when there was no constitutional or political crisis.
Mr Lim cited as significant a recent statement by a leader of the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), Mr Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who said the Islamic fundamentalist party was prepared to accept a non-Muslim as prime minister.
Mr Lim said Mr Mahathir's United Malays National Organisation had tried to use the PAS leader's statement "to scare Malay voters that support for the Barisan Alternative [opposition] would threaten Malay political dominance and Malay power".
Testimony by Mr Ibrahim in his sodomy trial might also have persuaded Mr Mahathir to opt for early elections, Mr Lim said.
Asia's longest serving elected leader, Mr Mahathir has remained in office through the Asian financial crisis, which swept the leaders of Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea from power.
"I don't care if I go down in history as a good guy or a bad guy," he said yesterday. "What is important is what is achieved."