Landslide win for Malaysian government

Malaysia’s prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi won a landslide victory yesterday after voters resoundingly rejected the fundamentalist Islamic opposition and handed the secular leader a mandate for cleaner government.

The results indicate a huge personal endorsement for Abdullah, who has cultivated an image as a corruption fighter and man-of-the-people in the five months since he took over from leader Mahathir Mohamad, who retired on October after 22 years in power.

The victory also sent a strong signal that voters have rejected the hardline policies of the Islamic opposition, amid fears that religious fundamentalism was on the rise in this mostly Muslim country, which has detained scores of suspected terrorists in the past two years, some linked to al-Qaida.

Abdullah’s United Malays National Organisation secured huge swings in two states in the Muslim-dominated northern rural belt, the Islamic party stronghold.

Final results from the Election Commission showed UMNO claimed Terengganu state with 28 seats to three for PAS, with one being recounted.

But official figures showed UMNO and PAS were neck-and-neck in Kelantan – held by the Islamic party since 1990 – with final results not expected until later today.

UMNO went from two seats in Kelantan to at least 16, marking striking gains. Either side needs 23 seats to gain a majority in the 45-seat assembly.

Nationally, the National Front coalition won at least 167 seats in the 219-member federal parliament, surpassing the 146 needed for a two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution at will, Electoral Commission figures showed.

Abdullah declared victory at his party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, where he joined hands with his wife and deputy prime minister to lead a sing-along of UMNO’s theme song before a cheering crowd.

“This huge victory is very meaningful,” Abdullah said. ”The people have accepted that the National Front is strong and capable enough to fulfil a mandate to develop our country and make it safe and peaceful for everyone.”