KUALA LUMPUR: With an election upcoming in Malaysia, the country's opposition aims to take power from the ruling party for the first time since the country became independent in 1957. On Monday, the opposition coalition announced a wide range of pledges to voters in the hopes of earning a victory in the election, which must be held by the end of June. The alliance said it aimed to create jobs, increase incomes and fight against corruption if it comes to power in this year's poll. The promises form the official platform for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's three-party People's Alliance, the main political threat to the National Front coalition. “The people are rising to demand changes,” Anwar said in a speech while announcing his alliance's election manifesto. “We are the catalyst of this process. We are confident, God-willing, that we can conquer Putrajaya,” Malaysia's administrative capital. Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to dissolve Parliament within weeks to pave the way for a vote that must be held by the end of June. Anwar's alliance currently holds slightly more than one-third of Parliament's seats after the long-entrenched National Front endured its worst electoral results ever in 2008 polls amid public complaints about graft and racial discrimination. The alliance's electoral promises include adding a million jobs by gradually reducing Malaysia's reliance on foreign labor and introducing a 2 billion ringgit ($600 million) fund to facilitate a higher monthly minimum wage. It also aims to tighten anti-graft laws and halt the operations of a new eastern Malaysian rare earths plant run by Australian miner Lynas Corp. that has sparked health and safety concerns. Malaysians still seem uncertain over which alliance they will vote for, but some public opinion polls, although unsubstantiated, reveal the opposition is gaining steam ahead of the vote, which has opposition activists excited about the future of politics in the country. “We are all very hopeful,” a 25-year-old university student and local Kuala Lumpur campaigner for Anwar's coalition. For him, a change is needed in order to create a much broader political spectrum that is inclusive to more than just the government's views. “This is about the future of our country and I think Malaysia is ready and wanting a change. Can it happen? I don't know, but we will fight for every last vote,” he added. BN
