Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim wins confidence vote
Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim yesterday won a confidence vote in parliament, cementing his mandate a month after an inconclusive election result forced him to ally with the graft-tainted party of his former political rivals.
The affirmation of support was done via voice vote late in the day, with those in favour of Anwar Ibrahim's leadership drowning out those opposed, said Johari Abdul, speaker of the lower house of parliament.
New PM Anwar Ibrahim told media he had the support of 148 members of the 222-seat legislature, giving him the two-thirds majority necessary to pass reforms after a divisive November 19 general election.
House speaker Johari Abdul, a close Anwar ally, got 148 votes when he was elected for the post earlier yesterday.
Analysts said the strong majority should bring political stability to the Southeast Asian countries, which has seen four leadership changes in as many years.
Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition won 82 seats, leading rivals but falling short of the simple majority needed to form a government.
A days-long political stalemate followed, as a rival group led by ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin said it had also garnered majority support, forcing Malaysia's king to intervene.
Anwar Ibrahim, a long-time opposition leader, was sworn in as the country's 10th premier on November 24 to head a unity government. This meant, however, that the reformist politician had to form an alliance with Barisan Nasional, the graft-tainted party of ex-leader Najib Razak.
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