Malaysia’s PM to stay amidst fuel crisis

The much-publicized no-confidence vote against Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did not materialize on June 23 because the lawmakers from Sabah who had planned the no-confidence vote failed to turn up for the session. Abdullah confirmed on June 16 that he would step down and end a leadership crisis sparked by the coalitions’ worst ever election result. Abdullah has faced mounting public anger since ordering a steep increase in fuel prices in line with a global surge in oil prices, which touched a record US$139 a barrel in June. More than 1,000 opposition supporters marched through Malaysia’s largest city on June 13 in the biggest public show of anger over the government’s decision to dramatically raise fuel prices. The protesters chanted “Down with the National Front,” referring to the governing coalition, and called for the prime minister to resign. (June 13/16/24, 2008)