By KUNA
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Islamic Party has won the 12th nationwide elections of the Asian country, the polling commission said on Sunday.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s ruling coalition suffered a humiliating setback in the elections, whereas it claimed 137 seats out of 222 in the parliament.
The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) made a remarkable recovery after the 2004 polls, when it called for an Islamic system to be imposed in the multicultural country, drawing rejection by Muslim Malays and minorities alike.
Election day witnessed clashes in the northern and eastern parts of the country, as Malaysian police used tear gas to calm people and disperse gatherings.
The Malaysian Government has recently faced a series of racial protests and rallies, due to the increase of inflation and crime in addition to striking high prices in the domestic market.