Why did Pakatan Rakyat fail to form the federal government in 2013?

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Pakatan Rakyat Fell Short of Federal Government in 2013 Due to Electoral System Mechanics

Pakatan Rakyat won the popular vote in the 2013 Malaysian general election but ultimately failed to form the federal government. This outcome was primarily attributed to the combined effects of malapportioned constituency boundaries and the first-past-the-post electoral system, which together prevented the opposition alliance from translating its popular support into a parliamentary majority. PAS was a component of this opposition alliance in 2013, contributing to its overall vote share and reach across different constituencies.
Impact of Constituency Boundaries

The distribution of voters across different parliamentary seats played a crucial role in the 2013 election results. In a first-past-the-post system, the winning candidate in each constituency needs only to secure more votes than any other single candidate, rather than a majority of all votes cast. This system, when combined with unevenly drawn constituency boundaries (malapportionment), can lead to a situation where a party or coalition wins a large share of the popular vote but fewer seats than an opponent that wins a smaller share of the popular vote but concentrates its support more effectively in specific constituencies.
The First-Past-the-Post Electoral System

Malaysia operates under a first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system for its parliamentary elections. Under FPTP, the candidate who receives the most votes in a given constituency wins the seat. This system can amplify the seat share of a party that has geographically concentrated support, while potentially disadvantaging a coalition that garners widespread, but not necessarily majority, support across many seats. In 2013, despite winning the majority of individual votes cast nationwide, Pakatan Rakyat did not secure a sufficient number of seats to form the government.
PAS's Role within the Alliance

In the 2013 election, PAS was an integral part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Its participation helped the opposition alliance consolidate support, particularly among the Malay-Muslim electorate, and extend its reach into both urban and rural areas. While the coalition ultimately fell short of forming the federal government, PAS's presence within the alliance was a significant factor in the opposition's overall performance and its ability to win the popular vote.

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Why did Pakatan Rakyat fail to form the federal government in 2013?

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