Relief for Malaysian leader Anwar, as the opposition fails to alter status quo in state elections

By EILEEN NG
Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian state elections have ended in a return to the status quo, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government and the Islamist opposition each retaining control of three states as expected. The Election Commission said Anwar’s multi-coalition government triumphed in two of the country’s richest states, as well as Negeri Sembilan, in Saturday’s polls, while the opposition Perikatan Nasional bloc, that includes a conservative Islamic party, captured three poorer Malay heartland states in the north. Analysts say the outcome eases the pressure on Anwar and will boost the stability of his nascent government. But it will still be challenging as the opposition bloc has made inroads in government states and strengthened its hold in its own three states.