Egypt Moving Towards Democracy After Mubarak Ouster

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- The recent Egyptian parliamentary election was a step towards democracy, Egyptian ambassador to Malaysia Mohd Saad Ibrahim Ebeid said here Wednesday. The election will lead to a new constitution, ensuring among others, better distribution and balance of powers, he said, as well as a new president chosen by Egyptians for Egypt. "We have held a truly free and fair parliamentary election. Millions of Egyptians, from within Egypt and abroad cast their votes," the ambassador said at a reception held tonight in conjunction with the first anniversary of the Jan 25 revolution, which resulted in former president Hosni Mubarak being overthrown. The revolution, dubbed the Arab Spring Uprising or Popular Uprising, saw Egyptian activists take to the streets for some 18 days to protest against poverty, unemployment, government corruption and the rule of Mubarak. The ambassador who hosted the reception said that measures were being taken to ensure security while maintaining macro-economic stability. With these recent developments, along with the determination of the Egyptian people, he envisaged greater opportunities for Egypt, and invited Malaysia to further enhance mutual cooperation, whether in trade and investments or in cultural, scientific and education sectors. He described Egypt as a key country in the Arab world, the Middle East and Africa. "It will remain the pillar of peace and stability in the region, and the development towards democracy will strengthen this role further," he added. In the election, where balloting was staggered over six weeks starting Nov 28, Islamists, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most disciplined political group in Egypt, won about 70 per cent of the 508 Parliament seats. The landmark election, held in three stages, was the first since the fall of the 83-year old Mubarak, who had ruled the nation of 85 million people for almost 30 years. -- BERNAMA