JOHOR BARU, Malaysia, May 5: Malaysians began voting today in an election that could weaken or even end the rule of one of the world’s longest-lived coalitions, which faces a stiff challenge from an opposition pledging to clean up politics and end race-based policies.
Led by former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition is aiming to build on startling electoral gains in 2008, when the Barisan Nasional, or National Front, ruling coalition lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The result signalled a breakdown in traditional politics as minority ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indians, as well as many majority Malays, rejected the National Front’s brand of race-based patronage that has ensured stability in the Southeast Asian nation but led to corruption and widening inequality.
Hundreds of people lined up outside polling stations across the country, many of them first-time voters concerned about the rising living costs, higher crime and corruption in a government that has been in power for 56 years.
“I would like to see some change,” said Wardina Shafie, a 31-year-old computer engineer after she cast her vote on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital. “I think the opposition has a good chance of taking government. I only worry about voter fraud.”
The campaigning had heated up in recent days with Anwar accusing the coalition of flying up to 40,000 “dubious” voters across the country to vote in close races. The government says it was merely helping voters to return to their hometowns.
Polling will end at 5.00 pm (1430 IST). Officials expect the first results for 222 parliamentary seats and over 500 state seats to start trickling in from 8.00 pm onwards.
(AGENCIES)
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