Malaysian opposition forms pact after poll gains

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's three opposition parties announced Tuesday a strategic alliance after humbling the ruling coalition with unprecedented gains in last month's elections.

The parties, rallied by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, claimed more than a third of parliamentary seats and five of the 13 states in the March 8 polls that handed the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition its worst electoral result since 1969.

"In today's meeting, we have proposed to consolidate the cooperation between the three parties under the name 'Pakatan Rakyat' (People's Front)," Anwar said. The rare meeting was attended by leaders from the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP), Keadilan and the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).

Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, AFP