03-14-2008, 08:04 AM
Malaysian general election had just ended on 8 March 2008. The results shocked both the government and oppositions parties. Although the ruling coalition maintained their mandate, but the increase of opposition seats in parliament and the loses of several states were never foreseen.
The ruling coalition, the National Front, <i>Barisan Nasional</i> (BN), was expecting to take control of the whole country had been focusing its effort into taking over the state of Kelantan, the only state that was under opposition administration. But not only it failed to take over Kelantan, but it lost four other states in the process.
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party ,<i>Parti Islam Se-Malaysia</i> (PAS) not only retained its power in eastcoast state of Kelantan, it also added another, northern state of Kedah, into its administration.
Democratic Action Party (DAP), a Chinese-backed party took over the northern state of Penang while two other states, northern state of Perak and central state of Selangor, fell into the hands of PAS-PKR-DAP coalition.
with 82 out of of 222 parliamentary seats awarded by the people to the opposition coalition through their polls, it sends a strong signal to BN that the government should respect people's right more than they're showing.
Kelantanese non-muslims flying the banners and posters of PAS, an Islamic party, during the process of election showed how the administration based on Islamic and moral values is accepted by multi-racial and multi-faith people.