KUALA LUMPUR, March 9: Malaysia’s political landscape was dramatically transformed on Sunday after the government slumped to its worst-ever election results, losing its two-thirds majority and four states to a buoyant opposition.

The stunning rebuke suffered by the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled for half a century, put a serious question mark over the future of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who faced angry calls to quit.

His government was punished over rising inflation and the mishandling of racial tensions in a result that for the first time in four decades deprives the coalition of its ability to change the constitution at will.

A visibly exhausted Abdullah said the coalition could still form the next government, but conceded Saturday’s election could be a vote of no-confidence in his leadership, which has been criticised as weak and ineffective. “Maybe. There are a lot of messages from the people,” he told reporters at the headquarters of his United Malays National Organisation party.

He said there was “no pressure at this time” to resign, and later told the state news agency Bernama that he was not quitting any post. Opposition leader and former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who has made a spectacular political comeback since his 1998 sacking and imprisonment, was jubilant.

“It is a new dawn for Malaysia,” he told AFP, saying it defeated the “myth” that Abdullah’s UMNO party which leads the coalition was invincible.

“I can see some leadership turmoil happening in UMNO,” he said. “They will have to reinvent by focusing on leadership change.”

Veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled for two decades before handing over to his chosen successor Abdullah in 2003, accused the prime minister of “destroying” the coalition and suggested he should quit.—AFP