Ex-Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad who twice led Malaysia suffers electoral defeat after 53 years.

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad has lost his parliamentary seat in the general elections that took place Saturday (19).

The former PM, who led the Pejuang party, came in fourth in a five-way contest in the constituency. This defeat is likely to end the career of one of Asia’s most enduring politicians.

According to the Election Commission of Malaysia he recieved about 4,566 votes out of about 47,500 valid votes cast, and will lose his election deposit. The seat was won by the candidate representing the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

Mahathir came in fourth in a five-way fight in Langkawi, a resort island in Malaysia’s northwest, which he had won with a large majority in the previous poll in 2018. 

Mahathir Mohamad returned to active politics as the multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB unfolded. He joined forces with his former deputy turned rival Anwar Ibrahim to defeat the then ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to become PM again in 2018.

The Ex-Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad who twice led Malaysia suffered electoral defeat after 53 years.