BBC Monitoring quotes from Malaysian press 31 Jan 05.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries carried in 29-31 January 2005 web site editions of Malaysian Malay, Chinese and English-language newspapers available to BBC Monitoring. The figure in round brackets indicates the date of publication

"Violence haunts general election in Iraq"

Kuala Lumpur's Berita Harian in Malay: www.bharian.com.my "...The fact is the land of Iraq will continue shredding the blood of its own people. The statement of President George W. Bush that the US invading troops will pull out from Iraq if the new leader of the Gulf state asks him to do so is merely an empty statement because he knows that the elected leader will be someone whom he supports and who still needs his protection. As a result, it is not surprising if Arab ulamas [clerics] and activists say that the Iraqi general election had been surrounded by various manipulations and will only give a bad name to the democratic system." (Editorial) (31)

"US-style Iraqi democracy"

Kuala Lumpur's Utusan Malaysia in Malay: www.utusan.com.my "...Violence …