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Anwar Ibrahim's Malaysian opposition celebrates by-election wins
Agence France Presse - April 9, 2009
Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia's opposition celebrated yesterday after winning two of three by-elections, less than a week after Prime Minister Najib Razak was sworn into office.
The votes were the first test for Mr Najib and his ambitious agenda to reform the ruling party UMNO, which represents majority Muslim Malays, and repair ties with ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
Analysts said it provided a snapshot of the public mood a year after the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional Coalition was humbled in general elections.
"It is a referendum on the Barisan Nasional government, on its inability to carry out promises and reforms since the March 8 elections," opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said. "Our support among the people is clearly increasing."
The opposition won five of Malaysia's 13 states in last year's elections.
The Barisan Nasional lost the northern Perak and northern Kedah seats. In the latter seat, the opposition had a landslide victory.
As a consolation, the Coalition won a convincing majority in the underdeveloped region of Sarawak on Borneo island.
Mr Anwar said the opposition had won four of five by-elections held since last year's national polls: "The results... demonstrate that the people of Malaysia remain committed to change."
Mr Najib's reform promises have been greeted with caution, since his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, failed to implement his pledges to tackle corruption and repair race relations during his six years in power.
Analysts say the new leader must quickly implement policy changes to win back voters before the next general elections in 2013. Mr Najib will unveil his cabinet this afternoon, it was announced last night.
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