KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in history, Malaysia is headed for coalition government. It is also noteworthy that Malaysia was in political limbo with no party getting an absolute majority in the election 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 the elections to the 222-member parliament. The ruling BN alliance was limited to 30 seats.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition made progress. Even if it gets 82 seats, it will not reach an absolute majority. The Malay-centric 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 in his home turf for the first time in the half-century-long election history.
Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yasin have come forward claiming that they have secured support to form the government. Anwar claimed that 111 seats needed to form the government have been secured. Neither has revealed which parties they are supporting. The two are in busy talks to form a coalition government.