MALACCA POLLS | While one of Malaysia's smallest states, Malacca provided some shockwaves thanks to the landslide win of Umno and its BN partners in yesterday's state polls.
The conclusive victory came in arguably the most important election since 2018's watershed general election and it is likely to have far-reaching implications.
Malaysiakini looks at how key political figures will be affected by the results:
Winners - Najib and Zahid
A big win in Sabah followed by a bigger win in Malacca has clearly shown that Umno's big two - president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and BN advisor Najib Abdul Razak - have shaken off the taint of corruption and retained their popularity.
The momentum from these two important elections will likely embolden the duo as they prepare BN for the next big prize - Putrajaya.
This is despite Najib being convicted in court and the controversy over him seeking an "RM100 million" retirement gift from the federal government.
For Zahid, he has shown that his leadership can deliver results and this may well sway his opponents in the Umno supreme council who were previously championing cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Loser - Anwar Ibrahim
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's career has taken another turn for the worse.
Early last year, he was PM-designate but the "Sheraton Move" relegated him to opposition leader.
Late last year, he suffered a major embarrassment after his claims of having a "formidable and convincing" majority came to naught.
Ahead of the Malacca polls, Anwar insisted that Pakatan Harapan recruit "political frogs" as candidates, despite warnings from coalition partner DAP.
Now that PKR has been vanquished during the polls, he will have to answer to his grassroots during the party's upcoming leadership election.
Loser - Abdul Hadi Awang
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang took a gamble by convincing his party to turn its back on the Muafakat Nasional pact with Umno in favour of an untested PN.
Internally, there have been some signs of dissent among pro-Umno figures within the party, but they have been pruned off during the recent party leadership election.
Hadi, who has a reputation of breaking allegiances, will now be in a weaker position should he attempt to negotiate with Umno again.
Loser - Idris Haron
This election would not have happened if not for Idris Haron’s decision to withdraw support for Sulaman Md Ali to stay on as chief minister.
With ambitions to become chief minister again, Idris thought that he could play for the other side and win.
Idris had enjoyed a meteoric rise in his career, having once been a deputy federal minister and part of the Malacca government.
Now, for the first time since 2004, he is not even an elected lawmaker nor an office-bearer of any party.
At the age of 55, he is still relatively young. But for now, he has to start from scratch. - Mkini
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