KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s ruling coalition on Saturday suffered its biggest electoral upset ever, losing control of four state governments and more than one-third of Parliament in a show of frustration over racial tensions, crime and corruption.
It was a humiliating outcome for the National Front coalition, which has governed Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, and raised questions about the political future of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
At the federal level, the coalition failed to win a two-thirds majority in the 222-seat Parliament for the first time since 1969. It had to be satisfied with a simple majority, winning 139 of the 220 seats for which results had been announced. Even if it wins the remaining two seats, it would fall short of the 148 needed for a two-thirds majority.
It was a stunning reversal of fortunes for Abdullah, who had led the Front to its best-ever result in 2004, winning 91 percent of the parliamentary seats and 12 of Malaysia’s 13 states.
A key issue in the elections was disillusionment among ethnic Chinese and Indians, who have long complained of discrimination.
