Malaysia Government Defeats Anwar to Extend 55-Year Rule
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Najib Razak was sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister after his coalition won a mandate extending its 55-year rule, with stocks and the ringgit rallying even as Anwar Ibrahim’s opposition vowed to contest some results.
Barisan Nasional won 133 seats in the 222-member parliament in yesterday’s election. Najib’s United Malays Nasional Organisation holds 109, or 82 percent of the coalition’s seats, up from 56 percent at the last election and less than 50 percent in 1999, according to Election Commission data, as support for ethnic-Chinese component parties dwindled. Anwar’s People’s Alliance took 89 seats.