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A polling station in Selayang, outskirt of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 12, 2023. /CFP
Malaysians in six states went to the polls Saturday to vote for state assembly members in elections widely seen as a barometer of support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's unity government.
While the elections are unlikely to immediately affect Anwar's current two-thirds majority in parliament, analysts said his hold on power could weaken if his Pakatan Harapan coalition suffers a setback, especially among Malay Muslim voters in the largely Islamic Southeast Asian nation.
More than 9.7 million voters are expected to cast their ballots to elect 245 assembly members in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
Of the six states, Anwar's coalition holds three, while the rest are controlled by an influential rural-based Malay Muslim alliance led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Malays account for two-thirds of Malaysia's 33 million population, which includes large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
Voter turnout was low at between 34-42 percent as of midday, the Election Commission said. The polls close at 6 p.m. local time.
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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466