The similarities were actually intentional; Jafar's design is basically an homage/Distaff Counterpart to Maleficent, though their personalities are different.
Jafar has ambition, and a lust for power. This goal, his ultimate desire, is what fuels him. What's more, he constantly desires to increase his power. It's not just power he strives for, it's having more power than others, and getting even more power.
Maleficent has no real reason for what she does. Like Iago in Othello, her malignity is motiveless. She is confidant in her abilities, and feels no need for growth. In fact, just the opposite. Rather than increasing her abilities, she strives to decrease the abilities of others, to make them hurt, to ruin them.
In short, Jafar would try to overpower Malificent by increasing his own power, and Malificent would try to overpower Jafar by decreasing his power.
edited 19th Nov '10 4:29:33 PM by AlirozTheConfused
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"Religion isn't the cause of wars, it's the excuse." —Mycroft Next

If I'm gonna compare these two, both of them are sorcerers, have smart bird sidekicks, have long staffs, wear long robes that confine their movements, trying to kill the heroes by transforming into their giant reptile forms, and they're evil.
I would like to imagine if these two fight in normal forms and giant reptile forms.