Malaysia's ruling party heads for big victory
Malaysia's ruling party heads for big victory
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's National Front coalition yesterday appeared headed for a landslide victory in Malaysia's ninth general election, early returns showed.
The opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) saw its bid for power in Penang, dubbed Malaysia's "Silicon Valley," crumble when its leader, Lim Kit Siang, failed to unseat Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon.
Koh won by 3,600 votes despite the DAP's pledge to work for greater equality for all Malaysian races, a battle cry that the party had thought would appeal to Penang's ethnic Chinese majority.
National Front candidates also swept the first 19 parliamentary wards in the timber-rich eastern state of Sarawak, although the mostly Christian opposition, the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), appeared to be holding ground in neighboring Sabah.
Lawyer Yunof Maringking of the PBS won a seat to parliament from Tuaran, a rural ward. The PBS also won in the Christian stronghold of Bandau where federal deputy minister Jeffrey Kitingan crashed to his nephew, Maximus Ongkili.
According to unofficial returns, the National Front was leading in many of the constituencies electing MPs to the 192- seat Dewan Rakyat, or lower house of parliament.
The National Front also appeared ahead in many of the 385 wards electing representatives to 11 of Malaysia's 13 state assemblies
The ruling coalition went into the polls with an early lead, having won 11 seats in parliament uncontested when nominations closed on April 15.
It also took nine seats in four state assemblies uncontested.
Mahathir had campaigned for re-election on the platform that only his multi-racial coalition could ensure the stability Malaysia needed to continue rapid economic expansion and full employment.
Malaysia's economy has grown by more than eight percent annually over the past seven years, fueled by huge inflows of foreign capital that have transformed the country into a newly- industrialized nation.
"We have done our best. We hope to win by more than a two- thirds majority, " the 70-year-old Mahathir, oozing self- confidence, declared late Monday.
Results in Malaysia's ninth parliamentary elections at 1350 GMT
Total 192
Results announced 36
National Front 31
Democratic Action Party (DAP)
All-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
Sabah Unity Party (PBS) 5
Spirit of 46 (Semangat 46)
Others
The 14-party National Front had a two-thirds majority in the outgoing Parliament with 138 seats. DAP was the largest opposition party with 20 seats, PAS had seven, PBS three, and Spirit of 46 six.
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