Anwar Elected to Parliament, Paving the Way to Lead Malaysia

Nusa Du, Bali, MINA — Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim won a parliamentary seat in a lower house by-election held on Saturday, moving closer to becoming the next prime minister, Nikkei Asian Review reported

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has indicated that he intends to hand over power to his former rival in a year or two. Belonging to the lower house of parliament is an eligibility requirement for the top job..

Anwar received roughly 70% of the votes in the poll held in the Port Dickson district of central Malaysia, according to election authorities. Turnout came to around 58%.

A sitting lawmaker from the ruling coalition had resigned to make way for Anwar, prompting a by-election. Seven candidates ran, including a hopeful from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party. Anwar was seen as certain to win after the National Front, the long-dominant political coalition ousted in May, did not field a candidate.

Anwar supported longtime rival Mahathir in May’s general election, which ushered in the first change of government since Malaysia gained independence in 1957. Anwar was in prison during that election on sodomy charges, but Mahathir obtained a royal pardon for him immediately after becoming prime minister again.

Before Saturday’s election, Anwar had said he did not intend to join the cabinet for the time being but would instead work on justice system reform and other issues in parliament.

The focus now shifts to when Mahathir will pass the baton to his anointed heir. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)