KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) Nov,19 – Malaysians voted in the general election on Saturday after polls failed to predict a clear winner.
The coalition, led by veteran opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to win most of the seats in parliament but will fall short of the majority required to form a government.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling Barisan coalition and his separate bloc led byPrime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin are the other leading candidates. Muhyiddin’s allies were subordinate partners in his Ismail coalition, and the two were once again able to work together to stop Anwar.
Without a clear winner, political uncertainty could persist as Malaysia faces slowing economic growth and rising inflation.
It has had three prime ministers in as many years, including 97-year-old Mahathir Mohamed, who ruled Malaysia for more than two decades during two stints in power and has roused himself for one last fight, though he is not considered a leading contender.
If Anwar clinches the top job, it would cap a remarkable journey for a politician who in 25 years has gone from heir apparent to the premiership to a political prisoner convicted of sodomy to the country’s leading opposition figure.
“Right now, I think things are looking good and we are cautiously confident,” Anwar told reporters after casting his vote in Penang.
Ismail said his coalition was targeting a simple majority but would be open to working with others if it failed to do so. Ads Scroll to continue
In Malaysia, her 21.1 million voters, including 6 million newcomers, elect 222 members of parliament. The election was fluid, with polls showing a significant number of undecided voters in the days leading up to the polls.
Polling places close at 6 p.m. (1000 GMT), and results will be announced later in the evening.
About 70 per cent of voters had cast their ballots by 4 p.m., according to the Election Commission.
He had the highest voter turnout in the last election, at 82%, but Saturday’s voter turnout already surpassed the last election by nearly 2 million people, given his high turnout in this poll. was Malaysia’s 15th General Election in Bella
Malaysia’s 15th General Elections in Bella
Malaysian parliamentary elections in Bela
Malaysia’s interim prime minister Ismail Sabri and his interim prime minister Jacob Yacob in the voting line during the 15th Malaysian general election in Vera, Pahang, Malaysia, on November 19, 2022. Reuters/Lai Sen Shi
Higher voter turnout generally tends to favour the opposition.
The main problem is the economy and corruption, as several leaders of his incumbent Barisan Nasional coalition face bribery allegations. Malaysians are also frustrated by political instability, which is seen as hampering development efforts.
“I hope the government will change,” 64-year-old pensioner Ismat Abdul Rauf told Reuters. “There are many issues to be addressed: the economy, the wealth of the country, the people who have committed wrongdoing, the people who have not been prosecuted.”
Anwar’s side is multi-ethnic and his two other sides prioritize the interests of the Malay Muslim majority. Muhyiddin’s bloc includes Islamist parties that promote Sharia law.
Polls showed Anwar, who spent more than 20 years as a dissident figure, had a head start. He said he served nine years in prison for homosexuality and corruption charges and had political motives.
