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Malaysia's Islamic opposition wins by-election
Associated Press - July 15, 2009
Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia's Islamic opposition won a special legislative election in its rural stronghold, but by a far smaller margin than last time, indicative of increasing support for the ruling party among the country's ethnic Malay majority.
The Election Commission said late Tuesday that the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, defeated Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling party by 65 votes to retain a state legislative seat in northern Kelantan, a sharp decline from the 1,352-vote margin of victory that PAS had in last year's general elections. More than 10,000 votes were cast.
PAS has ruled the state government in Kelantan, which has a 93 percent ethnic Malay population, since 1990 and was widely expected to win the election. However, the gains by Najib's ruling coalition could indicate a broader national trend in favor of the coalition among ethnic Malays.
Najib's party, United Malays National Origanization, claimed a morale boost from the results. "This is a sign that a wind of change is blowing strongly," Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted as saying by The Star, adding that people were now beginning to warm up to Najib's leadership.
Najib took power in April, more than a year after his ruling coalition suffered its worst-ever results in March 2008 general elections. The opposition alliance, led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, won more than one-third of Parliament's seats.
Najib last week unveiled a range of economic sweeteners including a cut in road toll charges and business license fees to mark his 100th day in office.
Hatta Ramli, a senior PAS official, said voters were swayed by Najib's pledges of political and economic reforms as well as UMNO campaign promises such as offering to build a new bridge in the underdeveloped district.
"We were the underdog all along. For us to hold on and win is a great achievement. Despite all that they did, they failed to defeat us," he told The Associated Press.
The seat in Kelantan fell vacant after the PAS incumbent died of a heart attack in May.
This was the seventh by-election since last year's general elections. All but one of those elections were won by Anwar's aliance. However, the opposition alliance has been plagued recently with infighting over policy decisions.
A nationwide poll in late June by the independent Merdeka Center research firm showed Najib's approval rating had risen from 45 percent in mid-May to 65 percent following his pledges to tackle complaints of coruption and racial discrimination.
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