Commentary: Opposition’s 'Malay referendum' call triumphs over ruling pact’s reform slogan in Malaysia state elections

Some media commentaries about Malaysia’s state elections underscore the “status quo” nature of the results. To a certain extent, this is true. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition­ — which mirrors the current Unity Government at the federal level — won and held on to their bastions in Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.