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Polls open in Malaysian election Malaysia chooses new parliament
(about 10 hours later)
Voters in Malaysia have gone to the polls to elect a new parliament with the prime minister urging ethnic minorities to support his coalition. Malaysians have been choosing a new parliament in an election expected to see Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's huge majority reduced.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he did not want a government "made up of only one race" after polls indicated his Chinese and Indian allies might fare badly. Inflation, rising crime and ethnic tensions have made inroads into support for his National Front coalition, analysts say.
Many Indians say they are discriminated against by the Malay-Muslim majority. Mr Badawi called for ethnic minorities to support him.
The ruling National Front is still expected to win, as it has at all previous 11 general elections. Some violence linked to the election has been reported in the north-east of the country.
Polls opened at 0800 local time (0000 GMT) and close at 1700 (0900 GMT), with provisional results expected nine hours after voting ends. Police in Terennganu State said they had fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of several hundred people protesting at what they saw as vote-rigging.
`Status quo' Arrests
On Friday Mr Badawi visited a mosque and met fishermen in the northern state of Penang and called for a strong turnout amongst the country's 10.9m eligible voters. Supporters of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) stopped buses they suspected of carrying National Front coalition supporters pretending to be voters from the district, said local police chief Ayob Yaacob.
I do not want to form a government that is made up of only one race Abdullah Ahmad BadawiMalaysian Prime Minister He said 22 people were arrested and the rest of the crowd ran away.
Appealing to the ethnic minorities which make up 35% of the population, he said. Prime Minister Badawi said before voting began that he did not want a government "made up of only one race" after polls indicated his Chinese and Indian coalition allies might fare badly. Ethnic minorities make up more than a third of the population.
"I do not want to form a government that is made up of only one race." Voters are concerned about price rises and ethnic tensions
The National Front is still expected to be returned to power by the country's 10.9m eligible voters, as it has at all previous 11 general elections.
Mr Badawi is seeking another five-year term, and he knows that he will get it, the BBC's Robin Brant reports from the capital Kuala Lumpur.Mr Badawi is seeking another five-year term, and he knows that he will get it, the BBC's Robin Brant reports from the capital Kuala Lumpur.
But he has already conceded that he is unlikely to equal the staggering 91% of seats won at the last general election, our correspondent says.But he has already conceded that he is unlikely to equal the staggering 91% of seats won at the last general election, our correspondent says.
His deputy, Najib Tun Razak, told the BBC that the benchmark for the coalition was a two-thirds majority, giving them power to change the constitution.His deputy, Najib Tun Razak, told the BBC that the benchmark for the coalition was a two-thirds majority, giving them power to change the constitution.
`Racial discrimination'`Racial discrimination'
The National Front dominates Malaysian politics and currently controls all but one of Malaysia's 13 states and three federal territories - the northern state of Kelantan, which is held by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). The National Front dominates Malaysian politics and currently controls all but one of Malaysia's 13 states and three federal territories - the northern state of Kelantan, which is held by PAS.
A series of illegal street protests have been held by ethnic minorities Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to end to racial discrimination
However, analysts say ethnic tensions and widespread concerns about price rises are likely to lead to gains for the opposition parties, including one led by the former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.However, analysts say ethnic tensions and widespread concerns about price rises are likely to lead to gains for the opposition parties, including one led by the former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Mr Ibrahim, who is banned from holding office after being jailed for corruption in a trial he says was politically motivated, has promised to end racial discrimination if his Justice Party wins.Mr Ibrahim, who is banned from holding office after being jailed for corruption in a trial he says was politically motivated, has promised to end racial discrimination if his Justice Party wins.
"We want strong Malays, strong Chinese, strong Indians," he told a campaign rally on Thursday night."We want strong Malays, strong Chinese, strong Indians," he told a campaign rally on Thursday night.
"Take the best Malays, let them work with the best Chinese and the best Indians.""Take the best Malays, let them work with the best Chinese and the best Indians."
Many ethnic minorities complain that government policy has denied them fair access to jobs, education, and housing.Many ethnic minorities complain that government policy has denied them fair access to jobs, education, and housing.
Tensions have increased in particular in recent months as a result of a series of illegal street demonstrations. Last November, 10,000 Indians took to the streets during one protest.Tensions have increased in particular in recent months as a result of a series of illegal street demonstrations. Last November, 10,000 Indians took to the streets during one protest.
Our correspondent says opposition parties are putting up a strong challenge in certain places, but the overall picture is expected to be much the same as every election since the end of British colonial rule in 1957 once the results are in. Our correspondent says opposition parties put up a strong challenge in certain places, but the overall picture is expected to be much the same as every election since the end of British colonial rule in 1957 once the results are in.