Voters turn on Malaysia’s old guard -Malaysia/Political
10/3/08
After five decades of political power, Malaysia’s ruling coalition suffered a humiliating rebuff at the weekend, ushering in one of the biggest shifts in Southeast Asian politics in almost 40 years. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now facing a barrage of calls to resign - including from former leader Mahathir Mohamad - following the opposition Islamists and reformists’ surge to power. Mr Abdullah’s Barisan Nasional coalition lost its crucial two-thirds majority in parliament and five of 13 states to the opposition and will need opposition co-operation to make constitutional changes. It is the first time since independence in 1957 that Malaysians have seen a significant opposition in parliament. Mr Abdullah was savaged by Dr Mahathir, who handed over to Mr Abdullah in 2003 after two decades leading the United National Malays Organisation, which dominates the coalition.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23347366-25837,00.html