Malaysia's opposition suffers huge setback with loss of non-Malay vote in Perak by-election

Barisan Nasional retained the Slim state seat with an enhanced majority of 10,945 votes in a by-election on Aug 29, 2020. PHOTO: BERNAMA
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KUALA LUMPUR - Defeat for former premier Mahathir Mohamad's new party at Saturday's Slim by-election was expected, but of great concern to the opposition will be the evaporation of previously fervent non-Malay support.

This was Umno's third straight by-election win since the Mahathir-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) was toppled in February, but significantly the first where it gained the support of voters who are not bumiputeras - a term used to jointly refer to the Malay Muslim majority and indigenous tribes.

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