For the first time in 60 years, Malaysia's ruling coalition has been voted out of power and the tale is nothing less than dramatic.

Asia World

In a historic election, Malaysia's allegedly corrupt prime minister lost to his 92-year-old former mentor who ran on behalf of a man he put in jail

The US has nothing on Malaysia when it comes to gerrymandering.

Due to malapportionment electorates have vastly different population sizes which radically affects the election outcome.

In rural areas there are electorates with small populations, in one case just 18,000 people. These areas are more likley to support the ruling coalition, and 29 of the 30 smallest electorates were held by the opposition.

But in urban centers that are more likly to vote for the opposition, there are 15 electorates with more than 100,000 constituents.

That means one person's vote can be 10 times as powerful in some rural, opposition-held areas.

It felt like Malaysia had won the World Cup

Supporters of Mahathir Mohamad, cheer as they watch live televised result announcement of the 14th general elections on May 10, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Despite gerrymandering, postal ballots that never arrived, and numerous voters who were not allowed to cast their ballot despite waiting hours in line to vote, the opposition alliance managed to pull off a historic win.

One man who requested he be identified by the initials "JC" told Business Insider that based on the celebrations around him it felt like Malaysia had "won the World Cup or Olympics."

One woman who travelled back from Beijing to cast her vote and requested she only be identified by the initials, "CC," told Business Insider she "woke up in tears of joy."

"We are once again Malaysians regardless of races. We were torn apart by the last government," CC said.

Sarah Wong, a "runner" who helped hand deliver overseas ballots before the Wednesday 5. p.m. deadline, told Business Insider she waited up until 3.30 a.m. texting friends and waiting for the results to come in.

Wong describes the the potential for a female deputy prime minister as a "huge thing," which, as a young Malaysian female, seems "like a new era."

"People have never been more united, hopeful, dedicated and hungry for change. Regardless of the result, which party won, this proves the Malaysians' voice are heard through fair and clean election," Wong said. "Some Malaysians abroad are looking to return in the near future because they see amazing things are possible back here again."

That's the case for Houston-based Kristina Mariswamy, who moved to the US for college in 2006.

"I grew up accepting my government was corrupt and got away with it. I was doubtful we would ever see this day. But today i get to believe in democracy and my government again," said Mariswamy after trusting a pilot she had never met before to help deliver her postal ballot to her hometown that made it with just a few minutes left on the clock.

"More than that, for the first time in a while, I feel like I can go home and get a fair shot at a good life in Malaysia. It's painful to leave home, your family and friends, but you do it because you feel thats your best option for a better life. Today, I don't have to think that way anymore, and instead of hoping, I get to believe."