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Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's government won a vote in Parliament yesterday on its decision to raise fuel prices, passing its first test of legislative strength after being mauled by the opposition in general elections.
The victory will be seen as a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling National Front coalition, including his highly unpopular June 4 order to raise gasoline prices by 41 per cent and diesel prices by 63 per cent.
Parliamentary speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia announced that a non-binding motion to support the price hike was passed in a vote after a day-long debate in the 222-member house.
Pandikar said: "129 legislators supported the motion and 78 opposed. Therefore the motion is passed." He did not say how many members abstained or how many were absent.
A loss of the vote would not have brought down the government or overturned the price hike. But it would have been a major embarrassment for Abdullah.
The National Front has 140 lawmakers against the opposition's 82.
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