Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim urges protest over poll defeat

 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged supporters to stage a protest after Malaysia's ruling coalition won polls he said were marred by fraud.

His call came as PM Najib Razak was sworn into office after his Barisan Nasional (BN, National Front) coalition won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats.Mr Anwar's three-party alliance secured 89 seats on Sunday in the country's closest polls since independence.The BN has been in power in Malaysia for more than half a century.The polls saw an 80% voter turnout, amid strong campaigning from both sides.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged supporters to stage a protest after Malaysia's ruling coalition won polls he said were marred by fraud.His call came as PM Najib Razak was sworn into office after his Barisan Nasional (BN, National Front) coalition won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats.Mr Anwar's three-party alliance secured 89 seats on Sunday in the country's closest polls since independence.The BN has been in power in Malaysia for more than half a century.The polls saw an 80% voter turnout, amid strong campaigning from both sides.

 The BN secured a simple majority but failed to regain the two-thirds parliamentary majority it lost for the first time in 2008.