KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in history, Malaysia is headed for a coalition government. It is also notable that Malaysia was in political limbo with no party winning an outright majority in elections with the highest turnout in its 60-year history of independence. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaqoob’s Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance suffered a major setback in elections for the 222-member parliament. The ruling BN alliance was limited to 30 seats.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition has made progress. Even if he gets 82 seats, he won’t reach an absolute majority. Malaysia’s Perikatan National (PN) party led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yasin is close behind with 73 seats.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a strongman in Malaysian politics, was defeated at home for the first time in its half-century electoral history.
Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yasin have come forward saying they have secured support to form the government. Anwar said the 111 seats needed to form the government had been secured. Neither has disclosed which parties they are supporting. The two are engaged in talks to form a coalition government.
