The six provincial elections in Malaysia that concluded on Saturday have raised hopes of an interesting contest. The multi-party coalition of incumbent Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the rival Islami Party won three provinces each, as expected. The Electoral Commission announced that Anwar's multi-party coalition had won two of the country's richest provinces, Selangor and Penang, while also winning Negeri Sembilan.
The commission said the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition won Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. The PN coalition includes the Pan-Malaysian Islami Party. "The result has eased some pressure on Anwar and will increase the stability of his new government," said experts. However, the times ahead for them will still be challenging, as the PN coalition led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has performed well.
PN alliance has won more than half the seats so far
The PN coalition, led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, contested 245 seats in six provinces, winning 146, while Anwar's coalition won 99. Around 9.8 million Malaysian voters were eligible to vote in these elections. "60 to 70 per cent polling has been recorded in every state," the Election Commission said two hours before the polls were to close. The election was seen as a referendum on Anwar's leadership and the Islamist opposition following a divisive general election last November. The results of the provincial election will not affect the federal government, but will indicate whether Anwar's government will be able to complete its five-year term.(AP)
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