The Associated Press
Published: December 9, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Human rights activists voiced fears Tuesday that Malaysia's next leader may try to stifle dissent when he takes power in less than four months.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak is slated to succeed current leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by early April. He will face an opposition alliance that has eroded the ruling coalition's support and criticism about how the government has handled challenges such as a weakening economy, corruption and racial disputes.
An aide to Najib dismissed concerns voiced by Suaram, a Malaysian human rights organization, saying there was no basis for them. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.
Suaram representatives noted that authorities have increasingly arrested anti-government demonstrators and used tough laws against bloggers, including one who was detained without trial earlier this year after writing articles that criticized the government.
Abdullah recently announced he would hand power to Najib to revive the government's political fortunes after the opposition made unprecedented inroads in March general elections.