The fortunes of Anwar, the current opposition head, are on a downward trajectory, with Parti Warisan’s Shafie aiming to fill the leadership vacuum.

The Kuantan Port expansion and Melaka Deepwater Port projects show that while China may provide funds, domestic actors also play an important role.

The long-dominant Barisan Nasional coalition is tipped to win, but the vote is also seen as a key indicator of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s enduring appeal among rural Malays.