The opposition party built to carry the torch of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was wiped out in Sunday's general elections, with his wife the most prominent victim, unofficial results showed.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, leader of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan), reportedly succumbed to the juggernaut of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in her husband's northern home state of Penang.

The online newspaper malaysiakini said however a recount was underway in Wan Azizah's constituency of Permatang Pauh on the nothern state of Penang where she lost by only 36 votes.

But after a recount the day after polls, the Election Commission officially declared that Wan Azizah had retained the seat with a majority of 590 votes.

Other key leaders fielded by Keadilan in some 30 seats were also defeated, leaving the party clinging on to only one out of the five parliamentary seats it won in 1999.

Keadilan was built from the political fallout of the sacking by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad of his charismatic deputy Anwar, who was subsequently charged and jailed 15 years for corruption and sodomy.

Anwar has said he was framed to prevent him from challenging Mahathir, who retired in October.

Trust into limelight

Wan Azizah, a 51-year-old doctor, was thrust to the limelight after Anwar's arrest.

She won the seat formerly held by her husband in the last election in 1999, and her fledgling party took another four seats in parliament.

But the Anwar issue appears to have waned five years on.

"This election is not free and fair. It is fraudulent and we will discuss what's our formal action," said Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua.

"It is very grim for the country because we are going back to a supreme Malay ruling party and mainly Indian and Chinese opposition by DAP," he told AFP .

Tian alleged there were irregularities in the electoral rolls, with thousands of people turned away in some constituencies, voters transferred elsewhere and the party's polling agents denied access in some areas. - AFP