Elections for state assembly members took place in six states of Malaysia on Saturday. These elections are largely seen as a gauge of public support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity administration.
While Anwar’s two-thirds majority in parliament is unlikely to be affected right away by the polls, observers said his grasp on power might deteriorate if his Pakatan Harapan coalition suffers a defeat, particularly among Malay Muslim voters in the predominantly Islamic Southeast Asian country.
More than 9.7 million voters are anticipated to cast ballots to elect 245 assembly members in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. Polling places started at 8 am (0000 GMT).
Three of the six states are held by Anwar’s coalition, and the other two are governed by a significant rural Malay Muslim coalition headed by Muhyiddin Yassin.
Two-thirds of Malaysia’s 33 million people, including sizable ethnic Chinese and Indian minority, are Malay.
A lengthy line built up outside at a voting location in Petaling Jaya, a city west of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Electric cars were on hand to ferry elderly voters to the school-turned-polling station.
Factory worker Fazrul Hafiz, 26 said he voted for the ruling coalition’s candidates.
“I hope Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will lead Malaysia for a full term until 2027,” he told AFP.
During the two-week campaign period, Anwar made a quick tour of the states, promising to raise financial subsidies to paddy farmers, support for economic development, and job possibilities.
The 76-year-old is advocating for a more inclusive society where other races are permitted more engagement, but his opponents want the Malay Muslim majority to take precedence. He ran on a platform of reforms during the general elections last year.
