Malaysia PM faces limited future after worst electoral showing
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak may have to step down by the end of the year, ruling party sources said on Monday, after his coalition extended its 56-year rule but recorded its worst-ever election performance.
Najib, 59, had staked his political future on strengthening the ruling coalition's majority in parliament in Sunday's general election on the back of a robust economy, reforms to roll back race-based policies and a $2.6 billion (1.6 billion pounds) deluge of social handouts to poor families.
But he was left vulnerable to party dissidents after his Barisan Nasional won only 133 seats in the 222-member parliament, seven short of its tally in 2008 and well below the two-thirds majority it was aiming for.
It also lost the popular vote for the first time in 44 years, local media reported, underlining opposition complaints that the electoral system is stacked against it. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's People's Alliance won 89 seats, up 7 from 2008 but well short of unseating one of the world's longest-serving governments.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/06/uk-malaysia-election-idUKBRE94400J20130506