MAHATHIR BECOMES PM AGAIN, AT 92
MALAYSIA’S veteran exleader Mahathir Mohamad, 92, has won a historic election victory, in a political earthquake that toppled the country’s scandal-plagued premier and ousted a regime that had ruled for over six decades.
In a stunning political upset that took pundits by surprise, Mr Mahathir’s opposition alliance ended the long hold on power of the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has been in power in Malaysia since its birth as an independent country in 1957.
The thumping victory capped a dramatic political comeback for Mr Mahathir, who previously ruled the country with an iron fist for 22 years and came out of retirement to take on Prime Minister Najib Razak after the leader became embroiled in a massive corruption scandal.
When he takes power, Mr Mahathir will be the oldest prime minister in the world. Despite the shock result, there were no reports of trouble on the streets, where pockets of celebration erupted overnight.
A flag-waving crowd of supporters gathered outside the headquarters of Mr Mahathir’s party near Kuala Lumpur.
Defeat could just be the beginning of Mr Najib’s troubles. Mr Mahathir has vowed to bring him to justice over allegations that billions of dollars were looted from a wealth fund which he oversaw.