Malaysia Sets Election Date, Prompts Outcry

This country’s Election Commission has set early general elections for Nov. 29, prompting criticism from opposition parties who have complained that the date gives them too little time to campaign.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called the early vote and dissolved Parliament this week. Critics said the move was intended to catch the opposition off guard.

Still, the wife of jailed opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim announced that she was ready to run for a seat in Parliament, possibly even the one held by Mahathir.

Election Commission Chairman Omar Hashim defended the election date, saying it was selected based on several factors, including the Muslim holy month of fasting in early December.

He said Nov. 20 is the deadline for candidates to file nominations for offices in the 11 state assemblies and the 193 seats in Parliament, which was dissolved Thursday.

The election--the first in five years--is expected to be the most hotly contested in decades.

Azizah Ismail, Anwar’s wife, announced Friday that she intends to run for office in an election that could be the opposition’s best hope to upset Mahathir’s two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time since 1969.