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Mahathir seeks re-election as campaigning begins in Malaysia

Saturday, 05 November 2022 10:55 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 05 November 2022 11:06 AM ]

Mahathir is greeted by a nomination official after submitting his nomination documents. (Photo by AP)

Mahathir Mohamad, a 97-year-old former Malaysian prime minister, has announced his intention to extend his role in politics, as campaigning for upcoming general elections begins in a highly competitive race.

Mohamad who became premier for the second time in 2018 still believes he can function soundly for the role of prime minister.

“But my own supporters felt that this should be my last effort because although I am 97 years old, I am still functional, I can still move around, be active, still debate and make speeches,” he said Saturday.

The campaigns, which began after the leaders filed their nominations on Saturday, are set to determine whether the Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition can make a strong comeback or if political reformers will see their leader, Anwar Ibrahim, achieve a long-held dream of becoming prime minister.

The race pits Prime Minister Ismail Sabri against veterans Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yassin. At least 21 million Malaysians are eligible to vote in the election, which is to be held on November 19.

According to polls and analysts, no single party or coalition will win a simple majority in the 222-seat parliament, and opposing alliances will have to come together to form the next government.

Ismail, who is from the BN coalition, said there were no easy wins in any parliamentary seats in this election, state news agency Bernama reported.

“This is the first time we are seeing three equally strong coalitions with experienced leaders contesting,” said Adib Zalkapli, a director with political consultancy Bower Group Asia.

He believes that there is a high possibility that there won’t be a clear winner in the polls, and that coalitions will have to negotiate to form a government.

“The general consensus is that the old ruling party Barisan Nasional will do very well and it is very likely that the only other coalition that can challenge BN is Pakatan Harapan,” said James Chin, an Asia expert at Australia’s University of Tasmania.

Malaysia has seen the world’s longest-serving coalition which was formed when the country gained independence from the British in 1957, after which the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) along with BN formed the government that lasted an uninterrupted 60 years.

But in 2018, on anger over corruption, the government was ousted from power when it lost Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope.

The PH rule didn’t last long as in 2020 the UMNO came back to power.

Ever since the last election in 2018, the country has had three premiers.

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