Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament on Wednesday in preparation for a general election seen as the toughest challenge yet for the ruling coalition after 56 years in power.

Malaysia’s maritime agency says a boat carrying 27 Indonesians overturned off the country's west coast, the second such incident in as many days.

Malaysia’s government defended the country’s electoral system as free and fair after a massive opposition rally demanded further transparency in general elections due in months.

Thailand’s government signed a breakthrough deal with Muslim insurgents for the first time ever on Thursday, agreeing to hold talks to ease nearly a decade of violence in the country’s southern provinces that has killed more than 5,000 people.

Anwar Ibrahim vowed on Tuesday his Malaysian opposition would soon present evidence of government cheating in bitterly fought weekend elections as he called for a “fierce” campaign for electoral reform.