Malaysia’s opposition is crying “fraud” after the ruling coalition won the weekend elections, extending the National Front’s 56-year-old rule.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition passed the threshold of 112 seats in the 222 seat Parliament.  Voters were given a ballot to choose the ruling party, or untested Pakatan Rakyat (PR) three-party alliance.

Prime Minister Najib urged people to accept his victory.  “We have to show to the world that we are a mature democracy,” he said in a televised broadcast.

But PR leader Anwar Ibrahim has a different view.  He said, “It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the Electoral Commission has failed.”  He had even declared victory before the poll, apparently to whip up support.