Najib guarantees peaceful transfer of power to PR

Anticipating what many say will be the closest fought elections in recent history, prime minister Najib Razak today gave his assurance that any change of guards whether at the Federal or state level will be peaceful.

"I hereby give an assurance that should there be any change of power whether at the state or Federal level, such a change will take place peacefully," said Najib, announcing on live television the long awaited dissolution of the parliament this morning.

He also called on both the ruling coalition and the opposition to display the spirit of democracy in making the coming general election a success. After his speech, Najib shook hands with members of his cabinet, which had its final meeting earlier.

Najib's announcement ends almost two years of intense speculation of a general election, after he replaced Abdullah Badawi in 2009, who was forced to resign following the BN's poor electoral performance the previous year.

Najib's assurance lends credence to widespread belief that the coming polls would be historic for Malaysia, which has been ruled by the UMNO-led coalition since independence from Britain.

Analysts have said that several component parties of BN, especially MCA, Gerakan and MIC, could face a wipe-out, causing BN to lose Federal power and most of the state governments. -HD