Unofficial results of Malaysia’s general election point to a victory of the opposition led by Tun Mahathir Mohamad.

First reports confirmed that “The opposition is gaining ground in the ruling party’s eastern stronghold of Sarawak state, and TV networks report that the heads of a Chinese party and an Indian party within the Malay-dominated ruling coalition lost their seats in regions that are also vote banks for it.” (ABC, May 9, 2018)

Tun Mahathir Mohamad stated late on Wednesday (local time) that based on unofficial tallies, the opposition coalition has won the election.

” Tun Mahathir feels his Party has won with a simple majority so far, with more results due in. However the Election Commission has requested for more time. Hope there is no foul play”

The independent news portal Malaysiakini’s unofficial count showed Najib’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition had gained 60 out of the country’s 222 parliament seats.

Mahathir’s Pakatan Harapan pact had won 73 seats, the figures showed. (SCMP, May 9, 2018)

According to Mahathir at a press conference

“We will need 112 seats and we would win. It would seem we have practically achieved that figure,”

There have been reports of vote rigging and fraud:

The Election Commission has demanded for more time before confirming the results of the vote.

The possibility of foul play by the outgoing (corrupt) Prime Minister Najib Razak cannot be excluded. Najib is fully aware that his defeat could  lead to an indictment on charges of financial fraud and corruption.