Malaysians begin voting in fiercely contested election

Malaysians begin voting in fiercely contested election

Voting is under way in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits the country’s prime minister against his 92-year-old former mentor.

Long queues had already formed at some voting locations in Kuala Lumpur and other cities.

Watched by election officials, voters at a polling station set up at a school in central Kuala Lumpur dipped a finger in purple ink before casting their votes.

Analysts say the ruling National Front, in power since independence from Britain in 1957, might lose the popular vote for a second consecutive election.

But it could still win a majority of seats in parliament due to an electoral system that gives more power to rural Malays, its traditional supporters.

Malaysian voters wait in a line to cast their ballots for the general elections (Vincent Thian/AP)
Malaysian voters wait in a line to cast their ballots for the general elections (Vincent Thian/AP)

Mahathir Mohamad, who was Malaysia’s authoritarian leader for 22 years until 2003, repeated the themes of a campaign that asserted a vote for the opposition would save Malaysia from a corrupt elite.

The 92-year-old Dr Mahathir emerged from political retirement and joined the opposition in attempt to oust Mr Najib, his former protege, after a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at a state investment fund set up by Mr Najib.

About 15 million Malaysians are eligible to vote and the Election Commission has predicted a turnout of 85%.

The opposition and election monitoring groups said the commission’s decision to hold the vote midweek was likely to lower turnout and favour the ruling party.

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