MALAYSIA VOTE; KEY TEST FOR GOVT AND OPPOSITION

From The Reuters By Julie Goh

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A January by-election will provide a key test for Malaysia’s incoming prime minister as he seeks to avert a sharp economic slowdown, while a win for the opposition could reignite Anwar Ibrahim’s stuttering campaign. The election commission on Friday set the date of the vote, caused by the death of a government MP, for Jan. 17.

.....“If UMNO wins, it will be seen as a victory for Najib personally, but if the opposition wins, it can only be seen as PAS getting stronger since the March general election,” said James Chin, professor of political science at Monash University.

.....“The poll will be seen as a bellwether of the Malay heartland vote,” the Singapore-based Straits Times said on Friday...." Read more