Foreign news

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysians woke up on Sunday, March 9, to a new political era in the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country after the opposition dealt a humiliating defeat to the ruling coalition in the general elections. "It feels Malaysia is a whole new country," Daniel Sia, a 27-year-old civil engineer, told Reuters.
"It feels like it has been reborn."
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's ruling National Front suffered its worst ever poll result on Saturday, March 8, losing its two-thirds majority in the federal parliament for the first time since 1969.
Malaysia's 2008 Elections (Special Page)
Elections Explained
With only three of the 222 seats undeclared, the NF won 137, the People's Justice Party of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim 31, the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party 28 and the Islamic Party PAS 23 seats.
The opposition won unprecedented control of five of Malaysia's 13 states including Abdullah's own home state.
"It's good to give some pressure for National Front," said Lai Yee Fei, 28, who works at a coffee bar beneath Kuala Lumpur's soaring twin towers.
"If the opposition parties can stand up for us, on behalf of us, I think it's good."
Abdullah won 91 percent of parliamentary seats in the 2004 elections, but analysts said he was being punished this time for high inflation, rising crime and mounting ethnic tensions.
He has also faced flak for failing to act on election promises to eradicate corruption.
"I am not shocked because NF failed to resolve many issues such as the prices of goods and fuel, and the issues affecting the Indian community," said teacher Firdaus Abdullah, 25.
The National Front coalition has governed Malaysia in various forms since its 1957 independence.
High Hopes
Many people are pinning high hopes on the poll results to usher in a better future for the country.
"The cab needed a reshuffle, people wanted to see new faces and that is why you see so many ministers have lost," said Manjit Kaur, 50, real estate agent.
"With the opposition coming into parliament with so many seats, we can expect better decisions.
"Things will get better now."
Without a two-thirds parliamentary majority, the NF can no longer change the constitution at will.
It could struggle to alter electoral boundaries, powers that the opposition have long maintained were abused by the ruling coalition.
"It is not good to have one-sided parliament," said Mohamad Isa Jaafar, 44, a building contractor.
"The ruling NF had become all too powerful and arrogant."
Premier Abdullah is already facing mounting calls to quit after the humiliating election setback.
Former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who chose Abdullah as successor in 2003 after two decades leading the United National Malays Organization (UMNO), which dominates the NF coalition.
"My view is he has destroyed UMNO, destroyed the NF and he has been responsible for this," Mahathir told reporters.
"I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100 percent responsibility," he said.
Mahathir has previously said he never intended for Abdullah to serve more than one term, and that he should have opted instead for influential deputy prime minister Najib Razak.
Under UMNO tradition, Najib is heir apparent to Abdullah and expected to become the next prime minister.
"I am sorry but I apparently made the wrong choice."