MALAYSIA: PM MOHAMAD'S PARTY WINS ELECTION скачать в хорошем качестве

MALAYSIA: PM MOHAMAD'S PARTY WINS ELECTION

(30 Nov 1999) English/Nat Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's coalition won a resounding victory in Monday's parliamentary elections after a year of political and economic turmoil that threatened the Malaysian leader's reign. But the opposition has also had some significant victories to its credit - opposition leader Azizah Ismail has won her seat in parliament. Mahathir proclaimed his victory early Tuesday to thousands of cheering members of his United Malays National Organization. His14-party National Front retained its two-thirds majority in the 193-seat Parliament with a campaign that focused on economic and civil stability. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Well I'm very glad to announce on behalf of the 'Barisan Nasional' Party that we have won this election with the two-thirds majority that we held before." SUPER CAPTION: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad The strong showing announced on Tuesday assured Mahathir, 73, of a fifth consecutive term. SOUNDBITE: (English) "So clearly, 'Barisan Nasional' is still the Party of choice of the people of Malaysia. " SUPER CAPTION: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir chided those who said his unorthodox economic policies would fail and clearly saw the result as a vindication of his actions in the past year - from the firing of Anwar Ibrahim to his economic policies. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The 'Barisan Nasional' is very grateful for the support of the people and as we promise in our manifesto, we will ensure that this country remains free, remains united and remains successful." SUPER CAPTION: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad The opposition did win a crucial victory when the wife of Mahathir's imprisoned former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, trounced a former Cabinet minister in the race for the rural northern seat that Anwar held for 16 years before being sacked and convicted of corruption. Azizah Ismail, who stood in her husband's former constituency in the northern state of Penang, told her supporters her victory represents a victory of the people and showed that people dared to choose change. Asked what would her husband say upon hearing the news, Azizah Ismail said his prayers had been answered. SOUNDBITE: (English) "He must be relieved that I won and I think that he's praying very hard and he's thankful that his prayers have been answered." SUPER CAPTION: Azizah Ismail, opposition leader Anwar is serving a six-year sentence for corruption and is on trial for sodomy. Since being jailed and beaten, the 52-year-old Islamic scholar had become the opposition's leading symbol for change. Back in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir referred to Azizah Ismail with irony and questioned her political abilities. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I can understand the feelings of the people there, they have been used to their old member of parliament and here comes the wife and the daughter crying, and I think that it isn't really right if people should sympathise but the question is whether she can contribute anything at all." SUPER CAPTION: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad The final tally for Monday's vote in Parliament and 11 state assemblies is not expected until later Tuesday. The new government is expected to be formed later Tuesday, with the Malaysian king reinstating Mahathir as prime minister in a formal ceremony. The Alternative Front had hoped to win at least 65 seats, but with 191 of the 193 seats decided, they had won only 41 seats. Nonetheless this was an increase on the previous Parliament, where the opposition held only 23 seats and the ruling coalition controlled 166 seats. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...