Malaysian parliament dissolved :Election March 8

Malaysia will hold its general election on March 8.The country"s Election Commission today said nominations will be held on February 24 to elect 222 legislators in Parliament. Abdullah dissolved Parliament yesterday, paving the way for the elections, a year earlier than scheduled.“Come out and vote, don"t sleep …. I want to see a free and fair election," Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman told reporters.The March 8 elections will see Abdullah"s Barisan Nasional party challenged by three main opposition parties, the left-leaning Democratic Action Party, the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia and dissident former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim"s Parti Keadilan. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was dissolving parliament Wednesday to call for general elections.Election are hurriedly called by the Abdulla Ahmed Badwai as country flutters with ethnic violence and growing inflation.Leaders have in past has also called for snap polls to test ones popularity.Opposition parties are other ethnic groups have alleged the Party to have electrol laws in their favor and General election were due on mid year of 2009. 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. I pray that BN will get at least two-thirds of the votes in the upcoming election," he told a press conference.“I hope voters will understand the issues affecting our country objectively," he said, adding that the Election Commission would decide on the polling date.Mr Abdullah heads the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which leads the Barisan Nasional (National Front) multi-racial coalition that holds 200 of the 219 seats in parliament.Voting must be held 60 days after parliament is dissolved, but the government traditionally allows just a two-week campaign period, which would mean the ballot in mid March. The election follows a series of rare public protests by groups accusing the government of introducing unfair election laws and by ethnic Indians alleging discrimination.The government has taken a firm line against such protests, saying they risk undermining Malaysia"s multi-ethnic balance and ordering police to use water cannon and tear gas to break up demonstrations.An election date is expected to be announced shortly by Malaysia"s election commission.