Malaysia state polls shut after day of low turnout
- PM Anwar Ibrahim is hoping the Malay-Muslim majority has not deserted his unity government, even as the opposition Perikatan Nasional gains ground in voter outreach
- Analysts forecast a low turnout will deliver a bloody nose to Anwar’s administration
Polls closed in six Malaysian states on Saturday with expectations a tepid turnout will be felt keenest by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his unity government, after a campaign where the opposition cast him as neglectful of the Malay-Muslim majority.
Around 9.7 million people were eligible to vote to choose the next governments for the six states – the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition-held Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu in the North, and Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor, where the government parties of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) dominated coalition hold sway.
The results of the state contests will have little direct bearing on Anwar’s hold on federal power. But they are seen as a barometer of support for him and his rag-tag administration of political allies and former foes, among the Malays who made a significant shift towards the Malay nationalist PN in last November’s general election, as well as his party faithful uncomfortable with his partners in government.
The Election Commission pointed to between 56-68 per cent turnout with just two hours of voting to go, as politicians from all sides called on the electorate to vote.
Only Terengganu appeared to have hit the 70 per cent mark by that time, still far short of official estimates of a nationwide 85 per cent turnout.
“Through your vote we choose leaders who will represent us,” PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang told reporters in an entreaty to vote halfway through the day shared on his official Facebook page.
