Malaysian PM calls general election

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called today for early general elections, at a date to be fixed by electoral authorities.“The king has given his consent to dissolve parliament, effective today the 13th of February, to allow the elections to be held,” he told a press conference that ended months of speculation.Abdullah said he had advised the king to dissolve federal parliament about a year before its five-year term was due to end. He gave no reason, but analysts have said the ruling coalition wants a fresh mandate before the economy slows and inflation picks up steam.He also advised all the state governments, except Sarawak, to dissolve their state assemblies to enable the state elections to be held simultaneously.The ruling coalition hopes to retain a two-thirds majority of the 222 seats up for grabs at the polls, Abdullah added.The Election Commission will meet soon to fix the election date, though political analysts expect it to be held during the first ten days of March.Elections were not due to be held until May 16, 2009. - Agencies