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Malaysia counts votes in cliffhanger general election Malaysia election: Opposition takes lead in cliffhanger poll
(about 2 hours later)
Millions of voters in Malaysia have cast their ballots in an election that pitted the country's leader against his 92-year-old former mentor. Millions of Malaysian voted on Wednesday in an election that could overturn the ruling party for the first time in the country's 61-year history.
The vote is one of the most hotly contested in the history of Malaysia, where PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has ruled for 61 years. A win for the opposition alliance - led by Mahathir Mohamad, the country's longest serving PM - would be nothing short of a political earthquake.
A victory for the opposition - led by Mahathir Mohamad, the country's longest serving PM - would be unprecedented. Mr Mahathir, 92, said he was confident of victory after early results showed a strong lead for the alliance.
Critics have raised concerns the election will not be free and fair.Critics have raised concerns the election will not be free and fair.
Mr Mahathir, 92, said he was confident of victory after unofficial results appeared to show the opposition alliance making strong gains, but official tallies were slow to emerge. With 176 out of 222 parliament seats counted, Mr Mahathir's opposition alliance, Pakatan Harapan, had 89 seats, while the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition had 68, with smaller parties taking the others.
Malaysian politics has been dominated since independence by the BN coalition and its major party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), but the once powerful coalition has seen its popularity decline. A total of 112 seats are needed to win the election.
In the last election, in 2013, the opposition made unprecedented gains, winning the popular vote, but failed to win enough seats to form a government. Addressing reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Mahathir said he was convinced Pakatan Harapan had done enough to secure victory. "There is no way they can catch up," he said, referring to BN.
The campaign pitted Mr Mahathir's opposition group against the BN, which is led by the incumbent, Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The BN and its major party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), have dominated Malaysian politics since since the country won independence from Britain in 1957, but the once powerful coalition has seen its popularity decline in recent years.
In the previous election, in 2013, the opposition made unprecedented gains, winning the popular vote, but failed to win enough seats to form a government.
In a dramatic turn of events, then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years jail on sodomy charges, which he said were part of a political smear campaign.In a dramatic turn of events, then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years jail on sodomy charges, which he said were part of a political smear campaign.
Mr Mahathir, who was once an integral part of BN and a mentor to Mr Najib, abandoned the coalition in 2016. He now leads opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan. Mr Mahathir, who was once an integral part of BN and a mentor to Mr Najib, abandoned the coalition in 2016.
As he left, he said he was "embarrassed" to be associated with a party "that is seen as supporting corruption".As he left, he said he was "embarrassed" to be associated with a party "that is seen as supporting corruption".
Mr Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal which saw him accused of pocketing some $700m from the 1Malaysian Development Berhad, a state investment fund. He has vehemently denied all allegations and been cleared by Malaysian authorities.Mr Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal which saw him accused of pocketing some $700m from the 1Malaysian Development Berhad, a state investment fund. He has vehemently denied all allegations and been cleared by Malaysian authorities.
The fund is still being investigated by several countries and Mr Najib has been accused of stifling Malaysian investigations by removing key officials.The fund is still being investigated by several countries and Mr Najib has been accused of stifling Malaysian investigations by removing key officials.
The government recently passed a law redrawing election boundaries, leading to accusations that it had gerrymandered constituencies to ensure they were filled by Malay Muslims, who are traditionally BN supporters.The government recently passed a law redrawing election boundaries, leading to accusations that it had gerrymandered constituencies to ensure they were filled by Malay Muslims, who are traditionally BN supporters.
In the days before the poll, election reform group Bersih 2.0 accused the Election Commission (EC) of multiple "electoral crimes", including irregularities in postal voting and failing to remove dead people from the electoral roll.In the days before the poll, election reform group Bersih 2.0 accused the Election Commission (EC) of multiple "electoral crimes", including irregularities in postal voting and failing to remove dead people from the electoral roll.
A controversial fake news law was also recently introduced, which critics say could be used by the authorities to muffle dissent.A controversial fake news law was also recently introduced, which critics say could be used by the authorities to muffle dissent.
Mr Mahathir is himself being investigated under that law after alleging that his plane had been sabotaged.Mr Mahathir is himself being investigated under that law after alleging that his plane had been sabotaged.
The government has insisted the election will be free and fair, with Mr Najib saying that the EC acted "for the good of all".The government has insisted the election will be free and fair, with Mr Najib saying that the EC acted "for the good of all".
Voters will elect 222 members of parliament as well as state assembly members in 12 of the 13 states.Voters will elect 222 members of parliament as well as state assembly members in 12 of the 13 states.
Malaysia uses a first-past-the-post electoral system, where the party that gets the most seats in parliament wins even if it does not win the popular vote.Malaysia uses a first-past-the-post electoral system, where the party that gets the most seats in parliament wins even if it does not win the popular vote.