Dissident party quits Malaysia's ruling coalition
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A small dissident party says it has pulled out of Malaysia's ruling coalition because of dissatisfaction with the prime minister.
The Sabah Progressive Party has two lawmakers in Parliament. Its decision to exit will slightly reduce the National Front coalition's majority at a time when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is trying to seize power.
The Sabah party said Wednesday that its two lawmakers will remain independent for now, but it did not rule out joining Anwar's side eventually.
The decision means that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front now controls 137 seats in Parliament compared to the opposition's 82. Anwar claims he has the support of enough National Front legislators to topple the government
