A new Prime Minister contest-ing his first general election is always favoured to win in Malaysia. Past experience had seen Abdul Razak Hussain, Hussein Onn and Mahathir Mohamad romp home first time around. The verdict in this year's election has been no different, as the coalition led by Mahathir's deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi scored a resounding victory in March. Indeed, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition's 90 per cent of the parliamentary seats and 64 per cent of the popular vote was a new record. It was believed it would take some time for the new prime minister to stamp his own style and authority since he had to cast off the legacy of 22 years of the Mahathir era, which came to an end last October. With the same coalition in power, economic policies leaning towards privatisation were likely to continue. The difference, political observers say, would be in the style of functioning.
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