Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia’s former Deputy Prime Minister AnwarIbrahim officially returned to political life just five months after he wasfreed from jail by winning a by-election for a parliamentary seat on October 13.

According to the Election Commission of Malaysia, 71-year-old Anwarreceived 31,016 votes for the parliamentary seat in the southern coastal townof Port Dickson, defeating six other candidates. His closest rival secured only7,456 votes.

[Malaysia: Former Deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim to 𒈔return to poꩲlitics]

The landslide victory was seen as a grand political comeback to help Anwarprepare for his eventual takeover from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar was designated as Mahathir's successor after the two men set asidea bitter feud and joined hands to capture a stunning victory in the generalelection in May 2018.

Mahathir led the Pakatan Harapan, or Alliance of Hope, coalition to aspectacular victory in the general election, unseating his former protege NajibRazak and ending the 61-year rule of the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Anwar could not contest as he was in jail on a 2015 sodomy conviction,but his renewed partnership with Mahathir was key to the election win, afterwhich Mahathir secured a royal pardon for Anwar.

Mahathir, the world's oldest leader at 93, had previously said heexpected to be in office for at least two years and will keep his promise tohand over power to Anwar.-VNA