Malaysians vote in parliamentary elections

Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) faces its worst results in general elections in 40 years, losing its two-thirds majority in the federal parliament and control of several states.
Saturday's elections to the parliament and state assemblies were widely seen as a referendum on the rule of Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister.
The opposition has claimed victory in five states - Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor and Perak - in addition to capturing at least one-third of the seats in federal parliament.
Results were still being tallied by the election commission as of Sunday.
Experts say Badawi's continued leadership could be in jeopardy if the National Front's majority falls back below 80 per cent, or around 178 seats, in the new 222-seat parliament.
A two-thirds majority is needed to change the constitution.

Malaysians voted Saturday in parliamentary elections that could see gains for Malaysia's opposition amid anger over race and religion among minority Chinese and Indians.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's coalition appeared certain to win the balloting as it has for decades.

However, analysts predicted the opposition would win between 35 and 38 seats in parliament, nearly doubling its 19-seat share of the 289-seat body amid growing disenchantment among ethnic minorities who complain of discrimination.

Abdullah, dressed in a long blue button shirt and accompanied by his wife, was among the first voters to cast ballot in northern Penang state.

"We need a change," said R. Munusamy, a 70-year-old ethnic Indian who voted in Kuala Lumpur. "We are not happy with what is going on."

A first-time voter, Michael Lim, said corruption remains a problem. "They have not taken care of the people. A lot of promises were made, but nothing fulfilled," he said