Political science expert Ramasamy Palanisamy said: 'The victory shows the government has the edge over the formidable Anwar. They are likely to call for a general election before that advantage erodes.

'The victory has boosted government morale, but it could be short-lived,' said Dr Ramasamy, who is conducting private research.

The government's term is scheduled to end in mid-2009.

Another reason for early polls, political analysts say, is the expiry of a ban on Mr Anwar contesting or holding political office in April 2008.

'The government might want to have an election before the ban expires to exclude Mr Anwar,' said James Wong, of the independent news website Malaysiakini.com.

He said although the opposition lost the Ijok by-election, it showed Mr Anwar could in time fight the government to a stalemate.

Mr Anwar was barred from seeking election for five years after a corruption conviction for which he spent six years in jail. A longtime protege of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed, Mr Anwar spectacularly fell from favour in 1989 and was also put on trial over lurid sex charges. He was acquitted of sodomy charges in 2004.

Mr Abdullah refused to comment on Saturday when asked if he was considering a snap poll. However, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said: 'This [victory] is a good precursor for the next general election.'

Mr Najib told official news agency Bernama the 'timing' of the general election depended on many factors. 'However, we don't want to reveal our strategies,' he said.

During the by-election campaign, Mr Anwar had railed at government corruption and promised voters a new Malaysia without discrimination. But voters preferred to stay with the government, even though the discriminatory 'Malays-first' policies introduced in 1970 have been extended indefinitely. Top government officials conceded the by-election campaign showed Mr Anwar was a 'formidable opponent.'