Embattled premier wins 1st state test in Malaysia

A woman castes a vote at a polling station during a state election on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Polls opened Saturday in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state in a vote seen as a referendum for embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's 7-month-old unelected government. (AP Photo)
A woman castes a vote at a polling station during a state election on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Polls opened Saturday in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state in a vote seen as a referendum for embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's 7-month-old unelected government. (AP Photo)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's 7-month-old ruling alliance triumphed Saturday in its first electoral test in eastern Sabah state, a major victory for embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin amid challenges to his leadership.

Sabah was ruled by the opposition and the state poll was seen as a referendum for Muhyiddin's unelected government. Analysts said the victory could push Muhyiddin to call for early national elections to bolster his coalition that has a thin two-seat majority in Parliament.

The win could also help Muhyiddin thwart a challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who declared Wednesday he has secured majority support in the national Parliament to oust Muhyiddin and form a new government.

Muhyiddin said in a brief televised speech that his camp has won 38 out of the 73 state seats, enough to form a new state government, and thanked Sabah voters for their trust.

"Muhyiddin has secured enough of a strong performance to strengthen his legitimacy," said Bridget Welsh, honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham in Malaysia.

Sabah and neighboring Sarawak on Borneo island hold about a quarter of the seats in Parliament and are seen as crucial for political leverage. The two states are rich in oil and timber, but are among the poorest in Malaysia. They have a greater level of autonomy in administration, immigration and judiciary.

The leader of Sabah dissolved the state assembly on July 30 to seek early elections and block attempts by Muhyiddin's ruling alliance to wrest power in Sabah through lawmakers' defections.

The attempted takeover of Sabah was reminiscent of how Muhyiddin took power in March after defecting from the reformist government to form a new Malay-centric administration.

Muhyiddin's alliance has since taken control of many states after lawmakers defected. After losing Sabah, the opposition now controls only two of the country's richest states.

But Muhyiddin has been struggling to maintain support amid infighting in his coalition. His leadership was thrown into further doubt after Anwar claimed to have won majority support, including from lawmakers in Muhyiddin's camp.

Anwar hasn't revealed details, as he is waiting to meet with Malaysia's king, who is in a hospital. The king has power to appoint a new prime minister or dissolve Parliament for an early general election, which is not due until 2023. Muhyiddin has said Anwar's declaration was a mere allegation until he provides evidence.

The Sabah victory "took wind away from Anwar's sail," said Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

Muhyiddin's heavy campaigning in Sabah with pledge for development has worked well in interior seats, Oh said. Billboards of Muhyiddin's smiling face dubbed "Abah," or father, are prominent in many constituencies.

Voters wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus wait for their turn at a polling station during a state election on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Polls opened Saturday in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state in a vote seen as a referendum for embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's 7-month-old unelected government. (AP Photo)
Voters wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus wait for their turn at a polling station during a state election on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, in Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Polls opened Saturday in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state in a vote seen as a referendum for embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's 7-month-old unelected government. (AP Photo)

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