Malaysia election kicks off, close race expected, On Saturday, Malaysians went to the polls as the scandal-plagued party of jailed former leader Najib Razak sought to solidify its hold on power in a race that analysts say is too close to call. Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the opposition, expressed “cautious confidence” that his coalition would win a simple majority in the 222-member parliament. His coalition ran on a platform of combating corruption.
Malaysia election kicks off, close race expected
“A win today would certainly be gratifying after more than two decades of fighting to win the hearts and minds of the people,” Anwar told AFP before casting his vote in Penang state.
“Let us be clear: this would be a victory for the people.”
Amid concerns that intense monsoon rains may cause polling to be disrupted in some parts, around 21 million registered voters will swarm polling places throughout the day. Women wearing traditional Malay head coverings arrived in automobiles and motorcycles while several elderly people arrived in wheelchairs in the rural Pahang state town of Bera. The economy was Nurul Hazwani Firdon’s primary concern as she cast her vote, a 20-year-old tutor.
“I want a strong government and a stable economy so that there will be more job opportunities for the youth,” she said. Mohamed Ali Moiddeen, 60, a scrap metal picker, said he simply wanted honest leadership. “We just want someone who is trustworthy and able to do the job properly,” he said.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which is led by Najib and typically controls politics in the Southeast Asian nation, suffered a significant loss in the 2018 general election as a result of the widespread corruption scandal at state fund 1MDB. But because of internal strife in the two governments that succeeded UMNO, the party managed to regain control last year. Now that an election has been called ten months in advance, UMNO will be looking for a bigger mandate.
Anwar, who is 75 years old, is the leader of the alliance Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), which represents a variety of ethnic groups. With advancing years, this election may be the perennial opposition leader’s final opportunity to realize his 20-year aim of becoming the third-largest economy in Southeast Asia.
He is up against the Najib ally and ex-interior minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who leads the ruling Barisan National coalition, which is headed by UMNO. Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the interim prime minister, is also a part of it. The suspicions of corruption continue to hinder UMNO. Najib, the subject of the 1MDB affair, is presently incarcerated for 12 years. At campaign rallies, corruption was a major topic of discussion. Opposition parties repeatedly warned that if UMNO won, Najib might get away with it and corruption charges against Zahid and other party leaders might be dropped.
The scandal, where billions in state funds were diverted to Beverly Hills properties, a superyacht, a Hollywood film and Najib’s own bank account, sparked investigations from Singapore, Switzerland and the United States. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, 97, and another ex-leader, 75-year-old Muhyiddin Yassin, head two other coalitions contesting the elections. – ‘Fragmented political landscape’
Analysts said there was no clear frontrunner among the four coalitions seeking the 222 parliamentary seats at stake. Malaysians will choose from a record 945 candidates across the largely Muslim nation, which also includes the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island. “Voters can expect a plethora of candidates on their ballot papers such that they will have a hard time deciding between candidates with similar positions,” said Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia.
The number of eligible voters has risen from 18 million four years ago to more than 21 million after the voting age was lowered in 2021. About 1.4 million of the new additions are first-time voters aged between 18 and 20. The majority of voters live in rural areas, where patronage politics continues to hold sway. Analysts said the multi-racial country would be in for further political instability if no coalition wins a clear majority.
“Unless Pakatan Harapan can clinch an outright parliamentary majority… the dominant UMNO party or one of the Malay Muslim parties would get to form a coalition government,” Oh told AFP. “Voters are likely to look forward to a similarly fragmented political landscape after the election, with a lot of horse-trading to form the next ruling coalition.” The election comes as Malaysians face soaring food prices, and parts of the country continue to be battered by flash floods due to monsoon rains. Skies were overcast and drizzly in the capital Kuala Lumpur, and the meteorological department forecasted rain and thunderstorms around the country.
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