ANI
20 Nov 2022, 11:18 GMT+10
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], November 20 (ANI): Malaysia is heading for a hung parliament as the coalition led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and ex-PM Muhyiddin Yassin make gains but fail to win a clear majority.
Malaysia's tightly contested general election has delivered a hung Parliament, with political alliances led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin running neck and neck, reported Al Jazeera.
Anwar's Pakatan Harapan (PH or Alliance of Hope) coalition secured 82 seats in the 222-member parliament while former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Malay-based Perikatan Nasional, or National Alliance, trailed behind with 73 seats, results from the Election Commission showed on Sunday. One seat was unannounced as of 5 am local time (21:00 GMT). Elections were not held on two seats.
A record number of Malaysians voted to end a recent spate of political uncertainty resulting in Malaysia's veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad dealing with his first election defeat in 53 years.
Mahathir came in fourth in a five-way fight in his long-held constituency on the holiday resort island of Langkawi, the election commission said.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition -- dominated by his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party -- suffered major upsets, winning just 30 seats, reported Al Jazeera.
The corruption-tainted Barisan Nasional coalition, which ruled Malaysia since its independence from Britain until 2018, could still return to power depending on post-election alliances.
Meanwhile, Anwar and Muhyiddin claimed their coalitions had enough support to form the government, though they did not disclose which parties they had allied with.
Without a clear winner, political uncertainty could persist as Malaysia faces slowing economic growth and rising inflation. It has had three prime ministers in as many years, reported Al Jazeera.
Muhyiddin's new National Alliance, which includes a Malay-centric conservative party and an Islamist party that has touted Islamic law, made substantial gains.
Race and religion are divisive issues in Malaysia, where the Muslim ethnic-Malay population make up the majority and ethnic Chinese and Indians the minorities.
Muhyiddin's Perikatan Nasional was a junior partner in Ismail's coalition government. If the result is close, the two could come together again to block Anwar, reported Al Jazeera.
Anwar said he would submit a letter to Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah detailing his support. If he clinches the top job, it would cap a remarkable journey for a politician who, in 25 years, has gone from heir apparent to the premiership to a prisoner convicted of sodomy to the country's leading opposition figure. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Malaysia Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Malaysia Sun.
More InformationDHAKA, Bangladesh - Human Rights Watch has sharply criticized a plan to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, claiming ...
Diamir, Pakistan - According to the country's disaster management agency, at least 11 people were killed when an avalanche hit ...
KATHMANDU, Nepal - According to sources, Luis Stitzinger, the expedition leader of the German operator Amical Alpin, has remained out ...
KARACHI, Pakistan - Dr. Seemin Jamali, former executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), died on Saturday night ...
RAKHINE STATE, Myanmar - According to Myanmar's ruling military, Cyclone Mocha killed at least 145 people this week.The impoverished western ...
KATHMANDU, Nepal - Nepal Airlines, the country's state-owned carrier, is one step closer to starting flights to Australia. Nepal Airlines' ...
FRANKFURT, Germany - With U.S. and UK. markets closed for public holidays, it was left to European and broader global ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The Verge has reported that Verizon Communications met with more than 6,000 customer service employees ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In response to a safety warning issued by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vietnamese electric vehicle ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Electric truck manufacturer Nikola Corp said that Nasdaq has delivered a delisting notice for not ...
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: Reuters reported that after facing a backlash from customers, Target is pulling some products from its Pride Collection ...
LONDON, England: The BBC has reported that Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors is planning to build a multi-billion pound ...