Malaysia PM’s alliance wins key election test amid rise in youth voters

Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob waves to members of the media earlier than departing for a gathering with the King, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 19, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Reuters) – A coalition led by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Saturday scored a landslide victory in a state election seen as a key take a look at for nationwide polls, after voting reforms that noticed a big inflow of younger and first-time voters.

The convincing win in southern Johor state for a coalition led by Ismail Sabri’s get together, the United Malays Nationwide Organisation (UMNO) got here forward of a normal election that might be known as as early as July.

Malaysia has lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and allowed automated voter registration, including 5.8 million folks to the electoral roll – a 40% enhance, with new voters making up a few third of these registered in Johor. learn extra

On Saturday, the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional alliance secured 40 of 56 Johor state legislature seats, crushing a fractured group of rival events.

“This outcome was past our expectations… for us, it is a present for the folks of Johor,” UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mentioned in a live-streamed victory speech.

Since 2018, Malaysia has had three prime ministers and seen the collapse of two governments and the splintering of two main opposing coalitions, amid protracted political turmoil.

Johor’s election was the nation’s most divided race but, with two ruling authorities coalitions, an opposition alliance, and a number of other impartial events and candidates becoming a member of the fray.

MUDA, a youth and reforms-based get together contesting its maiden election in Johor, received simply one of many seven seats it contested. But it surely mentioned the youth vote propelled it to second-place finishes in two constituencies.

“Although we’re a brand new get together and an underdog, we’ll work laborious to convey a brand new type of politics in Johor and throughout Malaysia,” MUDA president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman mentioned.

Reporting by Rozanna Latiff
Modifying by Ros Russell

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