Legislative in Malaysia: no clear majority in an ultra-tight ballot
Former Malaysian Prime Minister and Chairman of Perikatan Nasional, Muhyiddin Yassin in Shah Alam, Malaysia November 20, 2022. REUTERS - LAI SENG SIN
Text by: Gabrielle Maréchaux Follow
3 mins
In Malaysia, the results of the legislative elections of this Saturday November 19 fell by the drop, but after a long night, the multi-ethnic coalition Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) narrowly overtakes the conservative Islamic coalition Perikatan National.
But neither of these two camps is able to obtain an absolute majority in Parliament, which therefore leads them to covet the other parties in the ballot in order to hope to govern.
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From our correspondent in Kuala Lumpur
,
More than ever, on this election night, Malaysian political life resembles a game of lying poker.
In the absence of an absolute majority, the field of possibilities is still wide before Malaysia knows the name of its next Prime Minister.
According to the Constitution, the king is actually supposed to appoint the next ruler by choosing the deputy voted by a majority of Parliament.
But there are 29 seats missing in the Pakatan Harapan for Anwar Ibrahim, its candidate, to be appointed by the monarch.
This lack of certainty does not prevent the two main camps from already boasting, with on the side of the conservative Islamic coalition, a Muhyiddin Yassin not stingy in promising success: "
I am talking with the regionalist parties of Borneo, in order to to be able to form a government
”, he assured an audience of journalists.
king makers
Election after election, these regional parties in Borneo have forged the reputation of often being the kingmakers of an election by bringing their number of deputies to one camp or another.
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To read also: Malaysia in search of stability in legislative elections marked by ethnicity
But at the Pakatan Harapan HQ of Anwar Ibrahim, we also shout victory and we even shoot fireworks.
In the early hours of the morning, the latter summoned his allies and the journalists to ensure: "
We managed to obtain the support of enough other deputies to form an absolute majority
".
When questioned, however, neither Muhyiddin nor Anwar can say publicly who exactly comprises the majority they both claim to hold.
Waiting
To know who will govern Malaysia, it will therefore be necessary to wait, but at 4 am, it does not bother Arifin, supporter of Anwar, the eternal opponent of Malaysian political life.
“
I have been waiting for 30 years,
assures this activist dressed all in red
.
I waited when Anwar had to face obstacles, when he was imprisoned.
Today, more than ever, I want him to be Prime Minister, even if he has to form an alliance with any party for that
”.
Among the potential allies who could tip the ballot one way or the other, we find in particular UMNO, the historic Malaysian party, ejected in the last ballot, because it was marred by gigantic corruption scandals.
But more and more observers are wondering what would then become of the current legal cases concerning the highest executives of this party.
►
To read also: Malaysia: "Youth today is the keystone of this election"
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