Strong gains forecast for Malaysia opposition

Unofficial results from Malaysia’s general election last night showed the opposition alliance led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad is making strong gains at the expense of the ruling coalition in power for 60 years.

In the election for parliament, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s National Front is lagging behind the opposition, which campaigned on a platform of saving Malaysia from a corrupt elite after a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at a state investment fund set up by Najib.

At least two Cabinet ministers have lost their parliamentary seats and the opposition also made gains in state contests, potentially threatening the grip of Najib’s party on Johor state, where it was founded.

“There is a massive swing across races. It’s a big shift. This is a repudiation of Najib’s government from all walks of life from the very rural northern states to the more industrial southern coast,” said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert.