Anwar's landslide win: a further blow to Malaysian government

Anwar has set September 16 as the date by which he would form a new government by enticing government MPs to his side. The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which is the major party in the ruling 14-party Barisan Nasional (BN), has held power for more than half a century. The PKR alliance won 82 of the 222 seats in the national parliament in elections in March and needs 30 MPs to switch camps to bring down the government.

Anwar was unable to run for a seat in March due to a ban stemming from his conviction on trumped-up charges in 1999. His wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned her seat to create the by-election. Despite a malicious campaign against him, Anwar won 31,195 votes to 15,524 for the BN candidate Arif Shah Omar Shahan increase of 3 percentage points from his wifes result in March.

At a post-election press conference, Anwar described the vote as a defining moment in our history. In opposition to UMNOs racially discriminatory policies, he declared: The message is clear, we in Permatang Pauh and the Malaysian peopleMalays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, demand freedom and justice in this country. We want an independent judiciary and we want an economy to benefit the mass majority and not the corrupt few, sons and son-in-laws.

Read More