Election a snooze for Malaysian PM - AP

By Anil Dawar

Politics bores many people but one would at least expect a prime minister to be interested.

However, days before a general election, the Malaysian PM, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has been accused of dozing off in cabinet meetings and political gatherings.

Anti-government websites are circulating pictures of the politician yawning or sitting with his head bowed and eyes closed in various high-level political sessions.

Opposition politicians have urged voters to reject Abdullah's bid to retain office in the election on Saturday, citing the photographs as evidence of a weak and failing leader who has allowed corruption, crime and racial and religious tensions to mount.

The embarrassing pictures, however, are unlikely to hurt the incumbent's chances of re-election for another five-year term, as opposition parties struggle to match his National Front party's spending power.

Abdullah today denied claims that he snoozed through important meetings.

[More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/03/malaysia]