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PM vows to stay despite losses in Malaysian polls

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday he did not intend to quit despite unprecedented electoral losses that gave the opposition control of five states and one-third of parliament.

National news agency Bernama quoted Badawi as saying he doesn't need to step down because he still has strong support, especially from ruling National Front leaders.

"I will not resign because there is no pressure," he was quoted as saying.

Abdullah added he would be sworn in today at the national palace for a new five-year term.

Abdullah faced an uncertain future after shepherding the Front to its worst performance ever in general elections on Saturday, when scores of senior coalition officials lost their seats in the federal and state legislatures.

Earlier yesterday, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad called for Abdullah's resignation, saying he had "apparently made the wrong choice" when he hand-picked Abdullah to succeed him in 2003.

"My view is that he has destroyed" the National Front coalition, Mahathir told reporters yesterday. "It's shocking ... We have now a very weak government, and a weak government in a multiracial country will find great difficulty in running the country."

Abdullah kept away from the public eye following a brief news conference at which he confirmed the National Front had secured a simple majority in the 222-member parliament.

The ruling party won only 140 seats -- or 63 percent of the constituencies -- losing its two-thirds majority for the first time since 1969 and slumping from its 2004 landslide victory when it won 91 percent of the seats.

Coalition leaders were huddled in meetings yesterday to contemplate their next step, but they sought to show a united stance.

Deputy Information Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said "there is no doubt or question at all in the top ranks" that Abdullah should continue to lead.

"The prime minister has a full mandate. He will appoint a new Cabinet," Ahmad Zahid said. "There is no one person to blame for what happened."

An opposition alliance of the People's Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party and the Islamic Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party won 82 seats. The opposition had 19 seats in the outgoing parliament.

Ballots for 12 state legislatures culminated in the National Front losing control of the assembly in Penang, the only state where ethnic Chinese are a majority. It also lost control of Selangor, Kedah and Perak states for the first time.

"This is a defining moment," opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said. "The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognize that all Malaysians, regardless of race and color, culture and religion, are a nation of one."

Also See: Malaysia to remain open to business: opposition
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