This bias was originally aimed largely at reducing the number of seats held by the predominantly Chinese Democratic Action Party, which is strong in inner cities.
Analysts say that although chances of an opposition victory are slim, the loose alliance between fundamentalist Pan-Islamic Party, Mr. Anwar's moderate People's Justice Party and Chinese-majority Democratic Action Party, may extend its 2008 electoral gains, when it deprived the 13-party ruling coalition of its traditional two-thirds majority in parliament.
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For BA members, sticking together is no easy feat, given that they include parties as disparate as the conservative, Malay-oriented Parti Islam SeMalaysia and the secular, Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party.
The leader of the Chinese-based opposition Democratic Action Party, Lim Kit Siang, attributes this response to a scare campaign by the authorities.
Chinese party to its democratic opposition.
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And it was also under Mr Clinton ably assisted by Vice-President Al Gore that Chinese officials pumped money into the Democratic Party machine in the 1996 election in the confident hope of a quid pro quo.
He has worked to bridge divisions within the opposition, which includes the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, his own People's Justice Party and the Democratic Action Party, which mostly appeals to ethnic Chinese voters, and to turn the loose alliance into an effective campaign machine.
The opposition coalition made up of the Pan Islamic Party, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's moderate People's Justice Party and the Democratic Action Party that mostly draws support from the ethnic Chinese minority hopes to ride to victory on voter disenchantment.
But the opposition coalition made up of the Pan Islamic Party, Anwar Ibrahim's moderate People's Justice Party and the Democratic Action Party that mostly draws support from the ethnic Chinese minority hopes to ride on voter disenchantment with National Front administration to victory.
The opposition consisting of the Islamic fundamentalist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, Anwar's moderate People's Justice Party, and the Democratic Action Party that draws most of its support from the ethnic Chinese minority has steadily gained support in the urban areas.
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The opposition consisting of the Islamic fundamentalist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, the moderate People's Justice Party and the Democratic Action Party, which draws most of its support from the ethnic Chinese minority has steadily gained support in urban areas.
That was at least in part a reference to reports the Chinese government may have sought to arrange donations to the Democratic Party.
But during talks with Democratic Party leaders on June 20th, a senior Chinese official agreed to the party's proposal for the five new seats reserved for district councillors to be chosen by a much bigger electorate.
Many Chinese intellectuals expected new measures of political change particularly democratic reform within the party to be unveiled in his speech on July 1st marking the official anniversary of the party's founding.
If people vote for the opposition Democratic Action Party, which draws its support from Malaysia's Chinese minority (30% of the population), it could lead to a revival of the race riots that erupted in 1969.
Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's junior coalition partner New Komeito, on Wednesday held talks with a senior Chinese official, former foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan.
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