Abdullah Vanquishes Islamists in Malaysia Vote (Jihadists crushed in election)

Reuters ^ | 21 Mar 2004 | Simon Cameron-Moore

[Guillermo]

Abdullah Vanquishes Islamists in Malaysia Vote

Sun Mar 21, 2004 10:01 AM ET

By Simon Cameron-Moore

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was headed for a landslide election win on Sunday, as unofficial reports indicated his coalition had routed the Islamist opposition in the country's Muslim Malay heartland.

It was an impressive showing by Abdullah, who has enjoyed a surge in popularity after taking over the multi-ethnic Barisan Nasional coalition in October when veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad stepped aside to end his 22-year rule.

The government was always expected to win but early results showed the margin of victory was likely to be much more than expected.

"It looks like we've made a lot of gains in the Green Belt," a well placed government source told Reuters, referring to Malay-dominated states where the influence of Islam is strongest.

Reports cited by state-run television channel TV3 said Barisan, led by Abdullah's United Malays National Organization, had scored resounding victories in the Islamist-held Kelantan and Terengganu state assemblies.

Barisan had retained control of the key state of Kedah and its tiny neighbor Perlis -- both of which the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) had targeted to take over.

"It will be a huge, huge bonus for us if it's true," said the source, referring to the reported coalition victory in Kelantan -- a state held by the Islamist PAS since 1990.

PAS's smaller ally, Parti Keadilan, which champions the cause of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, also faced electoral disaster, according to reports.

"Keadilan is losing quite badly," said Rohana Ariffin, one of the party's candidates in Penang. "There was not enough time for campaigning."

Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was in danger of losing her seat to a former imam of the National Mosque fielded by UMNO.

Abdullah's candidates in the polls included several figures from the religious establishment whose views were in line with his moderate, progressive interpretation of Islam.    Continued ...

[Guillermo]

(They still hate Jews though)

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"Keadilan is losing quite badly," said Rohana Ariffin, one of the party's candidates in Penang. "There was not enough time for campaigning."

Hope he doesn't decide to go to pieces over this.

[Dustbunny]

They will always hate Jews. They have for so long it is ingrained in their genes.

[thoughtomator]

I think it's more of an abstract thing for them... I'm pretty sure there aren't too many Jews in Malaysia.

[international american]

There are Jews in the import/export textile and palm oil(lucrative) businesses. They are not terrorized, or shot or trashed. If you haven't been to Kuala Lumpur, you don't get the real picture.The only anti-semitic remarks I have heard here are from white europeans:)