KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has suffered a major election setback by winning only a simple parliamentary majority. The ruling coalition was left reeling Saturday (8 Feb) from shock defeats following a general election in which it appeared to have lost control of several states, including Penang and Kedah. Selangor and Perak were also lost, according to estimates by the opposition.

BN also failed to recapture Kelantan from the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). The results, if confirmed, would be the worst showing for the ruling coalition since 1969, when it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament and also two states - Penang and Kelantan.

The result later led to riots in the country. "It looks like a revolution. The message to the government is, enough is enough. It is not a green or black or red wave, it is colour-blind," PAS vice-president Husam Musa declared.

The Election Commission had announced that the BN had won 127 seats, enough to form the next government. Up to 222 parliamentary seats were at stake in the election and 112 were needed for a simple majority to form a government. BN had also secured control of five states - Malacca, Perlis, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang.

The loss of five states to the opposition, if confirmed, would be the worst showing in history for the BN, which also saw a number of its top leaders being dumped at the ballot box. BN top leaders, including Malaysian Indian Congress president S. Samy Vellu, Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon and Umno Cabinet minister Shahrizat Jalil fell like ninepins in shock defeats against greenhorns or lightweights.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin and deputy ministers M. Kayveas and Tan Chai Ho also lost. In a statement, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi Saturday said he accepted defeat in certain areas, as this was how democracy worked.

He urged the people to remain calm, and not to celebrate in the streets. He, however, had not met reporters for the traditional press conference.

Police chief Musa Hassan said the police had banned victory parades in an effort to avoid tension, and went on television to warn against spreading rumours. He said Malaysia remained calm and secure.

Datuk Seri Abdullah won his own seat in Kepala Batas in Penang by an 11,000-vote margin. Deputy Premier Najib Razak retained his seat in Pekan, Pahang, with a majority of about 26,000.

BN's performance this time is possibly its worst showing since 1969, when two states - Penang and Kelantan - fell to the opposition. At that time, it won only 65% of the seats in Parliament and 48% of the popular vote.

This may also be the first time that Kedah, Selangor and Perak have fallen to the opposition. The defeats nationwide have been described as a political tsunami cutting across race barriers.

Malaysians of all races swung to the opposition in numbers that were unanticipated. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called it a vindication for the support of the opposition.

"Going forward, Malays, Indians and Chinese all have to work together and make us a formidable force," he told reporters Saturday.

The results were a dramatic reversal of 2004, when BN registered an unprecedented mandate. Under PM Abdullah's fresh leadership then, BN swept 91% of the seats, but it now seems clear that the good will has steadily dissipated since.

Race relations have taken a serious dip, while anger over his economic management and public security has spread across the ethnic divide. The swing against the BN among the Chinese and Indian voters was anticipated, going by earlier polls, but the significant shift of Malay votes was unanticipated.

Ibrahim Suffian, Merdeka Centre research firm's pollster, said anecdotal evidence suggested that as many as 80% of Chinese and Malay voters had turned against the BN. He said the Malay vote swung by as much as 18%, especially in the northern Malay belt, only a few days ago, according to latest surveys. (By CAROLYN HONG/ The Straits Times/ ANN)