Malaysia's veteran leader Mahathir wins shock election victory

[webfact]

Malaysia's veteran leader Mahathir wins shock election victory

By Liz Lee and Fathin Ungku

 

Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime minister and opposition candidate for Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) attends a news conference after general election, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

 

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - An alliance of opposition parties spearheaded by Mahathir Mohamad won Malaysia's general election on Thursday, official results showed, setting the veteran strongman on course for a return to the Prime Minister's Office he occupied for 22 years.

 

Mahathir's stunning defeat of the ruling coalition that has ruled the Southeast Asian country since independence from Britain six decades ago means that, at the age of 92, he will become the oldest elected leader in the world.

 

Official results at 4:08 a.m. (2008 GMT on Wednesday) showed that Mahathir's Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) had won 112 of parliament's 222 seats, clinching the simple majority required to rule.

 

Najib's ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN), had 79.

 

Two more seats remained to be announced.

 

Mahathir told a news conference he expected to be sworn in as prime minister later on Thursday.

 

"The time for change has come, and I hope the people in power realise this," said Asifa Hanifah, a young woman who joined thousands of opposition supporters in central Kuala Lumpur who waved flags, cheered and honked car horns.

 

Few had expected Mahathir to prevail against a coalition that has long relied on the support of the country's ethnic-Malay majority.

 

However, he joined hands with his one-time protege, the jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim, and together their alliance exploited public disenchantment over the cost of living and a multibillion-dollar scandal that has dogged Najib since 2015.

 

Mahathir has promised to seek a royal pardon for Anwar if they win the election and, once Anwar is free, to step aside and let him become prime minister.

 

Several key roads in the heart of the capital, where violence between races has played out in the past, were blocked off by police as evidence grew that Najib's coalition was on the back foot. In a statement, the police appealed for calm and said that for now the situation was under control.

 

Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party postponed an evening news conference and said Najib, who has ruled the country for nearly 10 years, would address the media at 9:45 a.m. (0145 GMT) on Thursday.

 

Malaysia's currency weakened in offshore trading on the election result, with the ringgit one-month non-deliverable forward falling 2.4 percent to 4.07 against the dollar.

 

"HISTORY IN THE MAKING"

The reverse for UMNO, the dominant partner in BN, takes Malaysia into uncharted political terrain, said Keith Leong, head of research at the KRA Group consultancy. "We are witnessing history being made in this country," he said.

 

Ethnic-Malay Muslims have long tended to support BN for affirmative-action policies that give them government contracts, cheap housing and guaranteed university admissions.

 

Mahathir's alliance, which counts on urban votes and support from the minority ethnic-Chinese and Indian communities, had hoped the veteran Malay leader would win over voters usually loyal to BN. That strategy appeared to have paid off.

 

"There has been a significant shift in the Malay vote," said Rashaad Ali, an analyst with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

 

Mahathir is a polarising figure and many voters are suspicious of him because of his iron-fist rule as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

 

But 64-year-old Najib's popularity dropped sharply over the past three years, partly due to a scandal over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund from which billions of dollars were allegedly siphoned off.

 

Mahathir was once Najib's mentor, but he left UMNO over the 1MDB affair and joined the opposition. Najib, who was chairman of 1MDB's advisory board, has denied any wrongdoing and he has been cleared of any offence by Malaysia's attorney general.

 

In an even more unlikely change of heart, Mahathir last year buried a feud with Anwar, 70, and the two agreed to join forces to topple Najib.

 

Mahathir sacked Anwar as his deputy prime minister in 1998. Anwar then started a movement known as 'Reformasi’ - reform - to end UMNO's race- and patronage-based governance, but he was stopped in his tracks by charges of sodomy and graft, which he denied, but for which he was jailed.

 

Anwar was imprisoned again in 2015, when Najib was prime minister, after another sodomy charge, which he described as a politically motivated attempt to end his career.

 

(Additional reporting by A.Ananthalakshmi, Joseph Sipalan, Emily Chow, Praveen Menon and Rozanna Latiff; Writing by John Chalmers; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-10

 

[mfd101]

Wow! An astonishing win for no-nonsense Mahatir & Anwar. There is hope for a renewed & better (less corrupt) Malaysia.

 

[taichiplanet]

54 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Wow! An astonishing win for no-nonsense Mahatir & Anwar. There is hope for a renewed & better (less corrupt) Malaysia.

 

and hopefully a less racist Malaysia.

[webfact]

Malaysia's Mahathir, 92, to be sworn in as prime minister after historic poll win

By Praveen Menon

 

Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime minister and opposition candidate for Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) reacts during a news conference after general election, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

 

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad will be sworn in as the world's oldest elected leader on Thursday after his opposition alliance pulled off a stunning election win, ending six decades of rule by a coalition he once led.

 

Malaysians celebrated the 92-year-old's unexpected victory over Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose popularity had plunged over rising living costs and in the wake of a multi-billion-dollar graft scandal at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

 

Mahathir led the Southeast Asian nation for 22 years and his unexpected return to the prime ministership ends the previously unbroken rule of Barisan Nasional (BN), the coalition that had governed Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957.

 

"We are not seeking revenge ... what we want is to restore the rule of law," Mahathir said of Najib's scandal-plagued rule.

 

Mahathir appeared jubilant and sprightly at a news conference claiming victory overnight, even joking with reporters, and will have an audience with Malaysia's king later on Thursday.

 

The king will sign his letter of appointment as prime minister of Malaysia's constitutional monarchy during a ceremony at the royal palace in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

 

Najib is also expected to address the media at 9.45 a.m. local time (0145 GMT). He has not spoken publicly since the results were declared but a member of his Cabinet said they would accept the will of the people.

 

The stunning election outcome was expected to ruffle financial markets that were expecting a comfortable win for Najib and the BN.

 

Malaysia's currency weakened in offshore trading on Thursday, with the ringgit one-month non-deliverable forward <MYR1MNDFOR=> falling 1.7 pct. The U.S.-traded iShares MSCI Malaysia ETF fell 6 percent.

 

The national stock market will be closed on Thursday and Friday after Mahathir declared a public holiday, but the ringgit currency weakened in offshore trading.

 

CREDIT WARNING

Mahathir's alliance, which counts on urban votes and support from the minority ethnic Chinese and Indian communities, had hoped the veteran Malay leader would win over voters usually loyal to BN. That strategy appeared to have paid off.

 

Official results showed that Mahathir's Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) won 113 of parliament's 222 seats, clinching the simple majority required to rule. Najib's BN coalition only managed 79 seats.

 

Mahathir has promised to reverse a goods and services tax (GST) introduced by Najib during his first 100 days in power and review foreign investments.

 

Global ratings agency Moody's said some of his campaign promises, including the GST and a reintroduction of fuel subsidies, could be credit negative for Malaysia's sovereign debt rating.

 

Mahathir was once Najib's mentor but they clashed after differences over the 1MDB graft scandal, in which billions of dollars were allegedly siphoned off to foreign countries.

 

The scandal is being investigated by at least six countries, although Malaysia's attorney general cleared Najib of any wrongdoing.

 

Mahathir vowed to investigate the scandal if elected and to bring the funds back to Malaysia.

 

Asked on Thursday if Najib would be prosecuted, Mahathir said: "If anybody breaks the law, and that includes a journalist, they will be brought before the court."

 

Mahathir must now manage a fractious alliance of four parties and make way for jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to become the next prime minister, another former protege with whom he split acrimoniously before reuniting to topple Najib.

 

"I have to manage presidents of four different parties. It's going to be a headache," Mahathir told reporters.

 

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-10

[Baerboxer]

The people have spoken! And good for them. The seemingly corrupt Najib must be another politician whose suddenly become a candidate to do a runner!

 

Now perhaps a real inquiry, co-operating with foreign agencies, into where all those billions went might begin.

[ALFREDO]

I always liked him.

He brought a lot of positive influences to Malaysia including the SEPANG RACING CIRCUIT and Formula 1 and more important for me Moto Gp ??

Edited May 10, 2018 by ALFREDO

[Get Real]

92 years old! Talk about the choice of the dinosaur.

@ALFREDO. Yes, of course you choose a primeminister out of how good he promote racing sport. 

[bendejo]

Najib made too many enemies.  A lot of familiar faces on Team Mo are people Najib sacked.

Let's see if Mo goes for the home run: Najib goes to prison.  Boyo will do a Thaksin.

 

 

[sukhumvitneon]

"election"

[natway09]

He gave some of the money back to Saudi (some 600 million ) if i remember correctly.

Now might be a good time for the swindler to spend the rest of his life repatriated with it.

The power of the people really have spoken here

[Krataiboy]

Put the kettle on and alert Alice, the March Hare and Dormouse that the Mad Hatter's tea party is back in town.

Edited May 10, 2018 by Krataiboy

[richabb1]

Hope yet for Mr T

[newatthis]

2 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Put the kettle on and alert Alice, the March Hare and Dormouse that the Mad Hatter's tea party is back in town.

Or Prince Caspian has finally overthrown King Miraz.

[harada]

Money can't buy me votes, a lesson to be learnt here.

[dabhand]

Seems that Najib is not going quietly. He is sitting on a load of dosh from his pilfering of the taxpayer funded 1MDB and will have no qualms about using it to save his neck.

Dr M is well versed in such ways to gain seats as he used it to great effect during his time at the helm. It would be rather ironic if this alleged action by Najib were to prevent Dr M from resuming his political career.  

The stakes are extremely high, particularly for Najib as his house of cards is close to crashing down.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/10/malaysia-election-confusion-as-rival-questions-mahathirs-right-to-be-sworn-in

[Baerboxer]

18 minutes ago, dabhand said:

Seems that Najib is not going quietly. He is sitting on a load of dosh from his pilfering of the taxpayer funded 1MDB and will have no qualms about using it to save his neck.

Dr M is well versed in such ways to gain seats as he used it to great effect during his time at the helm. It would be rather ironic if this alleged action by Najib were to prevent Dr M from resuming his political career.  

The stakes are extremely high, particularly for Najib as his house of cards is close to crashing down.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/10/malaysia-election-confusion-as-rival-questions-mahathirs-right-to-be-sworn-in

 

Out of power, Najib can't prevent a very thorough investigation into the frauds and corruption - and where the money went.

Expect some desperate measures from him, because now he's lost the election he must be desperate. Expect him to try and illegally hold on to power as long as he possibly can. 

[lvr181]

92!

I wonder who the puppet master is? 

[Grouse]

I look forward to drinks being served again on short haul Malaysian Airlines flights! One must keep standards up!

[StreetCowboy]

The investiture done, and very popular with the people in the pubs across the road. Welcome back Tun Mahathir, the new old prime minister

[StreetCowboy]

The election and investiture coverage made a welcome change from English football on the TV, and garnered just as much in the way of late night cheering

[webfact]

Mahathir, 92, sworn in as Malaysia's seventh prime minister

By Liz Lee and Rozanna Latiff

 

Mahathir Mohamad is sworn in as Malaysia's seventh prime minister by Sultan Muhammad V at the palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia May 10, 2018. Bernama/Rosli Awang via REUTERS

 

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia's seventh prime minister on Thursday after a stunning election comeback, defeating the coalition that has ruled the nation for six decades since independence from Britain.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1037673-mahathir-92-sworn-in-as malaysias-seventh-prime-minister/

[geriatrickid]

23 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Wow! An astonishing win for no-nonsense Mahatir & Anwar. There is hope for a renewed & better (less corrupt) Malaysia.

 

Mahatir was just as corrupt as those deposed. His was one of cronyism.

Why Mahathir’s cronyism is worse than corruption

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2018/05/03/why-mahathirs-cronyism-is-worse-than-corruption/

 

23 hours ago, taichiplanet said:

and hopefully a less racist Malaysia.

What? Do you know anything about this petty, mean, bully? The institutionalised prejudice was his creation.

https://www.malaysia-today.net/2017/11/05/mahathir-father-of-all-racists/

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/115020  - Mahathir and his racist party

 

I predict that this  hateful vindictive bigot will have to be pushed aside as soon as he again starts calling the ethnic Chinese, filthy jews, or advocating walled  "ghettos" for the ethnic Indians and Tamils, otherwise the 13 member opposition coalition will fracture.

 

21 hours ago, ALFREDO said:

I always liked him.

He brought a lot of positive influences to Malaysia including the SEPANG RACING CIRCUIT and Formula 1 and more important for me Moto Gp ??

And for those who like their trains to run on time, they have their hero, Il Duce, Mussolini. Great reason to  idolize someone. You are  aware that the Formula 1 is considered to be one of the most corrupt of events right along there with the football world cup and and the selection of Olympic host cities.  One doesn't get an F1 race without applying a bit of grease, does one?

 

 

 

I get it- the now deposed  government was corrupt and abusive. It had to go.

Unfortunately, Tun Mahatir is just as evil. Hopefully, he dies, or is put aside as Malaysia can not afford more of his negligence, incompetence and vindictive petty  quarrels.

[jayboy]

1 hour ago, geriatrickid said:

Mahatir was just as corrupt as those deposed. His was one of cronyism.

Why Mahathir’s cronyism is worse than corruption

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2018/05/03/why-mahathirs-cronyism-is-worse-than-corruption/

 

What? Do you know anything about this petty, mean, bully? The institutionalised prejudice was his creation.

https://www.malaysia-today.net/2017/11/05/mahathir-father-of-all-racists/

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/115020  - Mahathir and his racist party

 

I predict that this  hateful vindictive bigot will have to be pushed aside as soon as he again starts calling the ethnic Chinese, filthy jews, or advocating walled  "ghettos" for the ethnic Indians and Tamils, otherwise the 13 member opposition coalition will fracture.

 

And for those who like their trains to run on time, they have their hero, Il Duce, Mussolini. Great reason to  idolize someone. You are  aware that the Formula 1 is considered to be one of the most corrupt of events right along there with the football world cup and and the selection of Olympic host cities.  One doesn't get an F1 race without applying a bit of grease, does one?

 

 

 

I get it- the now deposed  government was corrupt and abusive. It had to go.

Unfortunately, Tun Mahatir is just as evil. Hopefully, he dies, or is put aside as Malaysia can not afford more of his negligence, incompetence and vindictive petty  quarrels.

I go along with some of this and completely respect your line of argument.Nevertheless let me make some "counter" points.

 

1.For all his faults (and as you suggest they are many) Mahathir guided Malaysia to becoming a prosperous country.

 

2.He stood for a moderate brand of Islam and curbed extremism.

 

3.There's some evidence he's seen the error of his ways - though his anti Semitism is a matter of record.But at 92 he's more likely to be reflecting on his reputation in history.

 

4.His coalition is a convincing mix of Malay,Chinese and Indian.

 

5.Above all he has designated his former enemy Anwar (whom he treated abominably) as his successor.

 

6.If he hands over to Anwar as promised, Malaysia will have at its helm a real statesman of international quality at its helm - with all the advantages that confers on neigbours in ASEAN.

 

7.Despite his remarkable health there's an actuarial reality present given his age.His value therefore now is primarily that of a catalyst in chucking out a vile government and ushering in a potentially decent one.

 

8.Would that we had a credible Mahathir figure in Thailand.Actually we do (maybe it's a long shot) but I am not at liberty to discuss it.

 

 

P.S Anwar will of course have to be pardoned, get out of prison and win a by election to move forward.

Edited May 11, 2018 by jayboy

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, bendejo said:

Najib goes to prison.

Here's hoping.

[pedro01]

4 hours ago, jayboy said:

6.If he hands over to Anwar as promised, Malaysia will have at its helm a real statesman of international quality at its helm - with all the advantages that confers on neigbours in ASEAN.

 

P.S Anwar will of course have to be pardoned, get out of prison and win a by election to move forward.

 

I would not trust any promises Mahatir makes about Anwar.

 

Anwars problems started a long time back when he mentioned that one of the things he'd do as PM would be to investigate Mahatir.

 

Not long later, he was in jail for buggery (pardon my French).

Edited May 11, 2018 by pedro01

[jayboy]

20 minutes ago, pedro01 said:

 

I would not trust any promises Mahatir makes about Anwar.

 

Anwars problems started a long time back when he mentioned that one of the things he'd do as PM would be to investigate Mahatir.

 

Not long later, he was in jail for buggery (pardon my French).

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/anwar-ibrahim-will-be-freed-immediately-after-full-royal-pardon-10224088

[dabhand]

18 minutes ago, pedro01 said:

 

I would not trust any promises Mahatir makes about Anwar.

 

Anwars problems started a long time back when he mentioned that one of the things he'd do as PM would be to investigate Mahatir.

 

Not long later, he was in jail for buggery (pardon my French).

Yup, I recall back in the mid 90's that Anwar had been anointed by MM as his successor. He went on a personal trip of a few months to Canada and gave Anwar temporary control whilst he was away. Unfortunately, for Anwar, he jumped the gun and made a number of changes that  favoured his supporters but upset those aligned with Mahathir. The later difference of opinion on how to react to the financial crisis of the late 90's merely cemented the schism and the die was cast for the subsequent actions against Anwar.

Whether his recent 'Road to Damascus' moment on corruption will persist or will be seen as more of an opportunist tactic remains to be seen. Of course he will make all the correct moves initially, such as pushing through a royal pardon for Anwar. Will these be merely cosmetic, or will he really vacate a position that will, again, enable him to work on a more personal agenda that has been hidden to some extent. His use of the 1MDB stick to bash Najib has worked a treat, with his past record on similar issues being conveniently ignored.

Some might say the biggest mistake that Najib made, in the eyes of MM, was to prevent his son joining the top table of UMNO. MM was possibly looking to create a family political dynasty that might be able to rival that of Najib. When that avenue was blocked MM decided that the gloves were off and even an alliance with Anwar was seen as acceptable to get  his revenge. 

Having Anwar replace him may not be his ultimate aim.

[Jingthing]

On 5/10/2018 at 8:08 AM, taichiplanet said:

and hopefully a less racist Malaysia.

Except if you're a Jew.

https://www.jta.org/2018/05/10/news-opinion/malaysias-new-92-year-old-prime-minister-proud-anti-semite

Quote

Malaysia’s new 92-year-old prime minister is a proud anti-Semite

 

[StreetCowboy]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Except if you're a Jew.

https://www.jta.org/2018/05/10/news-opinion/malaysias-new-92-year-old-prime-minister-proud-anti-semite

 

It seems Everyone has something good to say about him.

 

I was surprised he was so outspoken in his speech last night, pinning his reputation on a pardon for Anwar and calling Najib a kleptocrat.

 

At least he’s not in the employ of Semitic foreigners to the tune of 600 million dollars

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, StreetCowboy said:

It seems Everyone has something good to say about him.

 

I was surprised he was so outspoken in his speech last night, pinning his reputation on a pardon for Anwar and calling Najib a kleptocrat.

 

At least he’s not in the employ of Semitic foreigners to the tune of 600 million dollars

I get it. So you think the good he represents overrides his rabid antisemitism. Your call. The truth is that Malaysia is one of the most Jew hating nations on the planet and weirdly has almost no Jews living there. Go figure.