In her first ever run for parliament, Nurul Izzah Anwar toppled a cabinet minister in just one of several high profile government scalps claimed by the opposition.

"Winds of change have taken place, a lot of people... want a change in the current leadership and are fed up with the arrogance shown by the government," said the 27-year-old graduate from Johns Hopkins University.

"I am amazed by the readiness for change. We are undergoing history as we speak," she told a press conference at her father's home after defeating the minister for women, family and the community.

Anwar himself was sacked and jailed a decade ago, but Saturday's election results dealt the ruling coalition its worst election setback ever, stripping it of its two-thirds parliamentary majority and winning or holding a total of five states.

The activist, lawyer Manoharan Malayalam from the Democratic Action Party, was elected from his jail cell, soundly beating the government incumbent in a state seat dominated by ethnic Chinese voters.

He is among five leaders of the Hindraf rights group who were imprisoned without trial under tough internal security laws last December for organizing an unprecedented mass rally claiming discrimination against ethnic Indians.

Manoharan's wife, lawyer S. Pushpaneela, said she was hoping for his quick release, state media reported.

Another major casualty was controversial Indian cabinet minister S. Samy Vellu, who lost the seat he has held since 1974.

Samy Vellu, a loyal supporter of the Malay-led government, has borne the brunt of anger from Malaysia's ethnic Indian minority who claim he has done nothing to end decades of discrimination.

Barisan Nasional, which has governed Malaysia for half a century, is still dominant in parliament and is set to form the next government, but the setback is seen as having dealt a heavy blow to its credibility.