DevelopingMalaysia votes in close-fought election that pits PM Najib Razak against former mentor Mahathir Mohamad
Polls suggest opposition alliance may garner more votes nationwide, but the ruling Barisan Nasional’s strength in east Malaysia could give it the edge
Malaysians went to the polls Wednesday in one of the country’s closest ever elections which pits scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak against his one-time mentor, 92-year-old former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad.
Najib is seeking to retain power at the head of a regime that has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, but veteran ex-leader Mahathir’s shock comeback has upended the election race.
Angered by a massive financial scandal that has tarnished Malaysia’s international image, Mahathir has teamed up with an alliance of parties that opposed him when he was in power, and which includes jailed opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim – his former nemesis.
Najib’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is seen as likely to win due to an electoral system that critics say is heavily stacked in their favour, but analysts predict the government will lose the popular vote for the second consecutive election.
Under the Malaysian system, a simple majority of MPs in parliament is required for victory, rather than the popular vote.
The race is expected to be tight however. The opposition alliance has gained ground in recent weeks as Mahathir, who ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, has chipped away at the government’s key support base, the Muslim Malay majority.