Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax.
A Malaysian prepares to casts her vote in Pekan, Pahang state, Malaysia on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Malaysia's general elections slated for May 9, will determine if scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak's coalition can extend nearly 61 years of unbroken rule against an unprecedented challenge led by the former strongman Mahathir Mohamad. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Polling booths opened at 8 a.m. and 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.
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Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax.
Polling booths opened at 8 a.m. and 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. Voting closes at 5 p.m. and results are expected in the late evening.
Najib, in an election eve appeal to voters, promised income tax exemptions for young people and public holidays if his coalition wins. Mahathir, 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 Mahathir emerged from political retirement and joined the opposition in attempt to oust Najib, his former protege, after a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at a state investment fund set up by Najib.
The U.S. Justice Department says $4.5 billion was looted from 1MBD by associates of Najib between 2009 and 2014, including $700 million that landed in Najib's bank account. He denies any wrongdoing. An unpopular goods and services tax, introduced by Najib in 2015 to boost government revenue as Malaysia's oil wealth dwindles, has also dented support for the ruling coalition. It hit poor rural Malays particularly hard.
"Enough is enough. We want a clean and just government We want a party for all races," Agnes Yap, a bank employee, told The Associated Press after she voted in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.
Reflecting Malaysia's racial divides, Yap said the Chinese party in the ruling coalition had been subservient to Najib's Malay party and failed to defend the rights of the country's ethnic Chinese minority.
The National Front lost its two thirds majority in parliament in 2008 polls and lost the popular vote in 2013. However that year it still won 60 percent of seats in parliament. Tindak, a group advocating for a fairer electoral system, says one third of voters decide half of seats.
But the opposition and election monitoring groups said the commission's decision to hold the vote midweek was likely to lower turnout and favor the ruling party.
The election campaign had been "quite vicious in the content of the personal attacks which doesn't reflect a mature democracy," he said after voting.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak looks at his finger marked with ink as he votes at his hometown in Pekan, Pahang state, Malaysia on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Malaysia's general elections will determine if scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak's coalition can extend nearly 61 years of unbroken rule against an unprecedented challenge led by the former strongman Mahathir Mohamad. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A Malaysian citizen casts his ballot during the voting day of general elections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting has begun in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been sullied by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf)
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. Voting closes at 5 p.m. and results are expected in the late evening.
A Malaysian citizen casts her ballot during the voting day of general elections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting has begun in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been sullied by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf)
Najib, in an election eve appeal to voters, promised income tax exemptions for young people and public holidays if his coalition wins. Mahathir, 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.
A man folds his marked ballot paper at a voting center during the general elections in Alor Setar, state capital of Kedah, northern Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax.(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The 92-year-old Mahathir emerged from political retirement and joined the opposition in attempt to oust Najib, his former protege, after a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at a state investment fund set up by Najib.
A Malaysian citizen casts his ballot during the voting day of general elections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. The scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib is seeking a third term in office during the May 9 general election, but faces an unprecedented challenge from a rejuvenated opposition led by his former mentor and strongman Mahathir Mohamad. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf)
The U.S. Justice Department says $4.5 billion was looted from 1MBD by associates of Najib between 2009 and 2014, including $700 million that landed in Najib's bank account. He denies any wrongdoing. An unpopular goods and services tax, introduced by Najib in 2015 to boost government revenue as Malaysia's oil wealth dwindles, has also dented support for the ruling coalition. It hit poor rural Malays particularly hard.
Election volunteers peep through a window glasses as Malaysian cast their votes for the general elections in Alor Setar, state capital of Kedah, northern Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax.(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
"Enough is enough. We want a clean and just government We want a party for all races," Agnes Yap, a bank employee, told The Associated Press after she voted in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.
Malaysian wait to cast their votes outside the voting center during the general elections in Alor Setar, state capital of Kedah, northern Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Reflecting Malaysia's racial divides, Yap said the Chinese party in the ruling coalition had been subservient to Najib's Malay party and failed to defend the rights of the country's ethnic Chinese minority.
A policeman stands watch as Malaysian line up to cast their votes outside the voting center during the general elections in Alor Setar, state capital of Kedah, northern Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax.(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The National Front lost its two thirds majority in parliament in 2008 polls and lost the popular vote in 2013. However that year it still won 60 percent of seats in parliament. Tindak, a group advocating for a fairer electoral system, says one third of voters decide half of seats.
About 15 million Malaysians are eligible to vote and the Election Commission has predicted a turnout of 85 percent.
A man gets his finger marked with ink before casting his ballot at a voting center during the general elections in Alor Setar, state capital of Kedah, northern Malaysia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Voting is underway Wednesday in a fiercely contested Malaysian election that pits an opposition led by former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad against the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose image has been battered by corruption allegations and an unpopular goods and services tax. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
But the opposition and election monitoring groups said the commission's decision to hold the vote midweek was likely to lower turnout and favor the ruling party.
Najib, the son of Malaysia's second prime minister, cast his vote in the coastal city of Pekan.
A Malaysian voter dips his finger on ink as early voting starts in Pekan, Pahang state, Malaysia on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Malaysia's general elections will determine if scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak's coalition can extend nearly 61 years of unbroken rule against an unprecedented challenge led by the former strongman Mahathir Mohamad. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The election campaign had been "quite vicious in the content of the personal attacks which doesn't reflect a mature democracy," he said after voting.
"But the most important thing is for the people to decide on the destiny of this nation and it must be based on facts, it must be based on policy," he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak votes at his hometown in Pekan, Pahang state, Malaysia on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Malaysia's general elections will determine if scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak's coalition can extend nearly 61 years of unbroken rule against an unprecedented challenge led by the former strongman Mahathir Mohamad. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak looks at his finger marked with ink as he votes at his hometown in Pekan, Pahang state, Malaysia on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Malaysia's general elections will determine if scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak's coalition can extend nearly 61 years of unbroken rule against an unprecedented challenge led by the former strongman Mahathir Mohamad. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
