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29 March 2024

Malaysian opposition claims Kedah state

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By Agencies

Malaysia's fundamentalist Islamic party PAS claimed victory in the northern state of Kedah on Saturday, the second state wrested from the ruling coalition in general elections.

"Yes, Kedah is in PAS's hands," the vice-president of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Husan Musa, told AFP.

Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the party's spiritual leader and chief minister of Kelantan state - which had been its sole stronghold - confirmed the victory.

"Thank God for Kedah, but we will not announce a name (of a leader) yet for the state," he said.

Kedah is the second loss for the government, after the island state of Penang fell to the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party, which said it would rule in coalition with another opposition party Keadilan.

The state Bernama news agency also said the opposition was in a strong position in central Selangor state, traditionally a ruling coalition stronghold.

In Kelantan, which the coalition led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had hoped to snatch from PAS which has ruled there for 18 years, the Islamic party said it would extend its majority. (AFP)