Campaign Commences In Malaysia Against November 19 Elections
Afimag.com –
Campaigning has officially begun in Malaysia ahead of the scheduled November 19 general elections.
It is a competitive race to see the world’s longest-serving coalition striving to recover power after four years of disgusting electoral loss.
Read More:
- How Excessive Dominance Triggered Insecurity In Nigeria
- PIA: A Corporate Attempt To Colonize Host Communities
- Bishop Withdraws Priest’s Ordination License For Impregnating Help-Seeking Woman
Political movements were inaugurated on Saturday for thee November 19 election, which will specify if the Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition can make a strong recovery.
It will also clarify whether political reformers can secure another win that will see their leader, Anwar Ibrahim, achieve a long-term dream of becoming prime minister.
Oversaw by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), BN had championed the country’s affairs since independence from Britain in 1957.
However, resentment over government corruption made the coalition to lose to Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope, in 2018.
The election victory prompted hopes of transformation in Malaysia but could not stand the taste of time as defections caused the PH government to fall out in early 2020 and restore UMNO to power.
Since 2018, Malaysia has had three prime ministers in its history.
Majority of candidates, including Anwar and 97-year-old, two-time former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, have tendered their nomination sheets at their constituencies on Saturday, paving the way for the start of a 14-day campaigning period.
In the same development, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, from UMNO, enrolled to defend his seat in central Pahang state.
Anwar, who was accompanied by drummers and supporters waving party flags, filed his nomination in Tambun in central Pekan state.
Additional 21 million Malaysians will cast ballots to fill 222 positions at the national parliament and choose representatives for three state legislatures.
The addition of millions of new voters due to a lower voting age caused tension around the outcome, while voter turnout could be affected by bad weather.
Some portions of Malaysia have already been submerged by floods and the meteorological department has cautioned against downpour that would start next week.
The prime minister dissolved parliament on October 10, nine months ahead of schedule, at the behest of UMNO leaders who desired an early election despite the flood uncertainties inpurred by several state victories.
UMNO thinks it has the upper hand over a strong opposition and before an economic slowdown expected next year.
The induction of two new Malay-based political alliances in peninsular Malaysia would divide votes among ethnic Malays, who had two-thirds factions of Malaysia’s 33 million people.
Florence Looi, while reporting for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said the election is set to see “fierce competition” among the candidates.
“One reason for this is because 5 million names have been added to the voters’ registration list and that’s quite a big number considering this is a country of just under 33 million people,” Looi said.
“Analysts say they could be a potential wildcard… As it stands now, no one quite knows how this bloc are going to vote so there is going to be intense competition for their votes.”