Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition suffered a crushing defeat to a key partner in a regional poll on Saturday, raising questions over the strength of the blocs’ alliance at the federal level amid talk of an early general election.
State Poll Results
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, led by the once-dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), secured a commanding victory, winning 48 of 56 state assembly seats in the southern Johor state, according to the Election Commission’s official tally on Sunday.
Pakatan, Anwar’s coalition, won the remaining eight seats, down from 12 previously. The Johor outcome will likely embolden BN and fuel concerns that Anwar’s coalition is losing ground among ethnic Chinese voters and reform-minded supporters who helped propel him to power.
Frustration has mounted among progressive allies over the slow pace of promised reforms, while coalition partners have frequently clashed over the handling of sensitive racial and religious issues in the multi-ethnic, Muslim-majority country.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
