In the general election in March 2004 – the first since Mahathir stepped down after 22 years in power – moderate Muslims helped Abdullah Badawi to a landslide victory. The release of Anwar Ibrahim soon afterwards raised the new premier’s prestige further as a leader who could heal intra-Malay, and intra-Muslim, conflicts.
2004年3月举行的大选之中¾也是执政22年的马哈蒂尔辞职后的首次选举¾温和派的穆斯林帮助阿卜杜拉.巴达维赢得了压倒性的胜利。不久后安瓦尔·伊伯拉罕的释放令新总理声名雀起，人们把他看作能够修复马来人和穆斯林内部冲突的杰出领袖。