Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim leads in general election

By Idris Sulun

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) - Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition narrowly leads Saturday in Malaysia’s general election.

The opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope, led by Anwar Ibrahim, and the Perikatan Nasional (PN), or National Alliance, are running neck-and-neck in the election in which 21 million registered voters cast ballots.

While the counting of the votes is drawing to a close, according to the unofficial results, the PH coalition managed to win 81 seats in parliament and completed the general election in the lead.

The PN coalition has secured 73 seats so far and is in second place.

The voting rate of the Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition, led by the long-ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which did not live up to expectations, is among the prominent developments in the race.

The BN coalition, led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has so far been badly defeated, winning just 30 seats.

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) succeeded in sending 22 deputies to parliament.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed lost his seat in Langkawi.

The 97-year-old veteran politician was defeated for the first time in an election since 1969.

The fact that no party or coalition bloc can reach an absolute majority in parliament makes the possibility of a coalition government inevitable, according to election results.