Malaysia's ruling coalition wins elections

Malaysia's ruling National Front coalition retains its majority in the parliament, with at least 112 seats won in Sunday's election, official results showed.

Malaysia's ruling coalition retained its 56-year hold on power, the country's Election Commission said early Monday, but a bitter opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim refused to concede defeat.

The commission said the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition led by Premier Najib Razak secured 112 parliamentary seats, the threshold required to form a government in the 222-seat chamber.

The announcement capped a fierce election battle Sunday in which Anwar's three-party alliance had hoped to pull off a stunning win against the only government Malaysia has known.

"Candidates representing Barisan Nasional have won 112 seats," commission chair Aziz Yusof told a press conference.
Malaysians voted in record numbers in the general election but the hotly anticipated day was dogged by accusations of electoral irregularities.
Informed of Barisan's win, Anwar said he would not accept the result.