The final tally of votes left Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) with 82 and 73 seats respectively, short of the 112 needed to secure a simple majority and form a government, while the formation of the current prime minister, Barisan Nasional (BN), suffered a historic defeat with only 30 seats.

PN and PH leaders, Anwar Ibrahim, a perennial contender for the position, and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who ruled briefly after the nonagenarian Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation in May 2020 and until August 2021, confirmed this morning that they could form a government, start negotiations with other groups to do so.

The defeat of BN led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) confirmed this defenestration of formations that have been under state control since its independence from Britain in 1963 to 2018, and which has lost influence in large part due to corruption scandals within its ranks.

It billionaire embezzlement of 1Malaysia Development Berhad funds (1MDB) has dug the group’s political grave and put former Prime Minister Najib Razak behind bars, although they may still negotiate to enter government with one of the winning alliances.

Besides corruption, The election was marked by the distribution of votes among ethnic Malayswhich represents about 69% of the population (23% Chinese and 7% Indian), and which, while traditionally supporting UMNO, now also supports PN, while PH presents a more multiethnic proposal.

Perikatan Nasional is a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and advocates extending the influence of Islamic law or sharia in a Muslim-majority country, peppered his speech with anti-Semitic remarks.

Mahathir, for his part, failed to secure his constituency seat in Langkawi for the first time, marked the end of an era and the end of the 97-year-old politician’s political careerwho has twice served as prime minister and whose resignation in 2020 sparked a political crisis that continues today.

Mahathir’s resignation due to divisions within PH, where he won the 2018 election, leaving the country mired in political instability with three leaders in the last four years, including nonagenarians.

Election results from Malaysia confirms the population’s boredom with the ruling class, in the middle rising inflation and among complaints about elite corruption.

More than 900 candidates contested 220 seats (although officially 222 elections for two were postponed due to the death of a candidate and flooding in both constituencies) in Malaysia’s nearest election, which threatens to prolong the political crisis.