Kuala Lumpur, Aug 9 : Malaysian Unity and Culture Minister Mohamad Shafie Apdal was elected Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association here today.

Apdal backed by India and others won a total of 152 out of 255 votes polled in comparison to the 102 bagged by his rival, Lord Swraj Paul, who was supported by Britain and Canada. One vote was declared invalid.

Apdal described his election as the head of the CPA, which has15,000 members and covers 177 branches, as an honour.