COMMENT | The day after GE15, what comes next

COMMENT | The outcome of these elections leaves many of us confused, weak, and dispirited.

Many heavyweights lost their seats. Dr Mahathir Mohamad lost his deposit! His son Mukhriz, PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar, veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, outgoing health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, outgoing finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and outgoing senior minister Azmin Ali all lost. No common thread here.

Pejuang as a party fared very badly. Umno as a party also fared badly. While Pakatan Harapan notched the largest number of seats at 82, a number of leaders actually lost - former ministers Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Khalid Samad, apart from Nurul Izzah, and others. 

PAS won the most seats at 49. Does this mean a movement towards a more conservative Malaysia? That more Malays are attracted to PAS’ idea of Hudud law and an Islamic state?

Perhaps not. I suspect corruption was a big issue. And that issue was tied up with the cost of living. Corruption was played up by Bersatu, PAS, Mahathir, Muhyiddin, and by Harapan...