Kuala Lumpur, Aug 12 (AFP\/APP): Malaysians in six states went to the polls Saturday to vote for state assembly members in elections widely seen as a barometer of support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.<\/p>\n
While the elections are unlikely to immediately affect Anwar’s current two-thirds majority in parliament, analysts said his hold on power could weaken if his Pakatan Harapan coalition suffers a setback, especially among Malay Muslim voters in the largely Islamic Southeast Asian nation.<\/p>\n
Polling centres opened at 8 am (0000 GMT), with more than 9.7 million voters expected to cast votes to elect 245 assembly members in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.<\/p>\n
Of the six states, Anwar’s coalition holds three, while the rest are controlled by an influential rural-based Malay Muslim alliance led by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.<\/p>\n
Malays account for two-thirds of Malaysia’s 33 million population, which includes large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
\nAt a voting centre in Petaling Jaya outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, a long line formed outside under cloudy skies.<\/p>\n
Electric cars were on hand to ferry elderly voters to the school-turned-polling station.
\nFactory worker Fazrul Hafiz, 26 said he voted for the ruling coalition’s candidates.<\/p>\n
“I hope Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will lead Malaysia for a full term until 2027,” he told AFP.<\/p>\n
Anwar went on a whirlwind tour of the states during the two-week campaign period, promising increased financial subsidies to paddy farmers, economic development aid and job opportunities.<\/p>\n
The 76-year-old, who had campaigned on a promise of reforms in last year’s general elections, is pushing for a more inclusive society where other races are allowed greater participation, while his opponents want primacy of the Malay Muslim majority.<\/p>\n
– ‘Dire consequences’ –<\/p>\n
Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional has expressed confidence in making further inroads.
\nOne key Perikatan member is the Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, which aims to create a theocratic state.<\/p>\n
Having won 49 parliamentary seats, or more than 20 percent of the 222-member parliament last year, PAS has in recent months stepped up racial and religious rhetoric to shore up support.<\/p>\n
“I feel quite excited and I hope Perikatan can win again in this area,” said housewife Jamilah Baharin, 48, who voted in Kedah state, a PAS stronghold.
\nJames Chin, a Malaysia expert at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said the election was being watched for the level of support reformist Anwar draws among Malay Muslims.<\/p>\n
He warned of “dire” consequences if Anwar loses even a single state.
\n“The first direct implication is that he cannot undertake any major reforms or fundamental structural reforms to the economy or to politics,” Chin told AFP.<\/p>\n
“This will force his hand and Anwar (will have) to adopt a more pro-Malay and pro-Islamic policy. That means the end of reforms.”
\nA loss could prompt MPs to shift allegiances over the next 12 months, “putting a question mark about the future of Anwar as the prime minister”, Chin added.<\/p>\n
A win, however, would give Anwar “enough political capital to carry out real reforms”, Chin said.
\nAnwar became prime minister last November following a political impasse that saw his party win the most seats in the general election but fall short of the outright majority needed to form a government.<\/p>\n
That forced him into an alliance with former foes in the United Malays National Organisation to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and approval from Malaysia’s king to form a “unity government”.<\/p>\n
The coalition has so far held together in a country that had seen three leadership turnovers in as many years after scandal-tainted Najib Razak was voted out as prime minister in 2018 over massive corruption at state fund 1MDB.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 12 (AFP\/APP): Malaysians in six states went to the polls Saturday to vote for state assembly members in elections widely seen as a barometer of support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government. While the elections are unlikely to immediately affect Anwar’s […]<\/p>\n
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