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Malaysian opposition averts split, inks accord

Malaysia's three-party opposition alliance signed an accord yesterday to stop squabbling over the leadership of a state government, averting a split in their newfound friendship.

The three parties signed and submitted a letter to the titular ruler of Perak state just after midnight on Thursday, confirming that a lawmaker from the Islamic party in the coalition will become the chief minister.

The disagreement over the leadership -- played out in public since Wednesday -- prompted predictions that the opposition alliance may not be able to stick together for long despite its spectacular victories in last Saturday's general elections, which posed the first credible challenge to the ruling National Front coalition since the country's independence in 1957.

Besides winning Perak, the alliance also won four other states -- unprecedented success in a country where the National Front has never conceded more than two of Malaysia's 13 states. The alliance also boosted its strength in the 222-member Parliament from 19 to 82, reducing the Front's two-thirds majority to a mere 140.

The letter to end the Perak crisis was signed by all 31 lawmakers of the three parties who won seats in the 59-member state assembly, Dzulkifly Ibrahim of the People's Justice Party said.

"Everything is settled ... we are ready now," he said.

Officials of the other two parties also confirmed a letter had been signed and delivered. It is not clear when the new chief minister will be sworn in.

The multiethnic People's Justice Party, or PKR, contributed seven seats to the alliance's 31 in Perak. The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party, an Islamic fundamentalist party made up of ethnic Malays, won six, while the lion's share of 18 went to the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party.

Separately, hundreds of ruling party members protested outside the administrative headquarters of the opposition-ruled state of Penang yesterday in the first sign of partisan tensions after the elections, police said.

The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) members were demanding that the newly installed Penang government retain affirmative action policies for the majority Malays, a police officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to make public statements.

Some 300 UMNO members took part in the demonstration, chanting slogans and waving banners, the spokesman said by telephone. One banner read "Don't Abolish the New Economic Policy," a reference to the affirmative action program.

The protesters then dispersed peacefully after less than an hour when police backed by trucks mounted with water cannons arrived on the scene, the officer said.

UMNO State Secretary Azhar Ibrahim, who led the protest, declined to comment when contacted.

UMNO claims to represent ethnic Muslim Malays, who form 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people. Most of the remaining Malaysians are ethnic Chinese and Indians.

Meanwhile, the son of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad yesterday revived calls for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign after the ruling coalition's unprecedented election setback.

"I feel that Abdullah has to take responsibility for our losses and that the honorable thing to do is to withdraw," Mukhriz Mahathir said.

The call adds to the pressure on Abdullah, who heads the UMNO which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition that was humbled in the March 8 polls.

"By his resignation, then at least the confidence in UMNO and Barisan Nasional will be somewhat restored in the eyes not only of the people but also our members," Mukhriz said.

Mukhriz, a member of UMNO's youth wing, is the highest-ranking figure to openly push for Abdullah to stand down.
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