Malaysia expected to announce GE dates on Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Election Commission (EC) is likely to announce nomination and polling dates for the country’s general election on Tuesday (April 10).

EC secretary Abdul Ghani Salleh said the commission will hold a special meeting to discuss the dates as well as preparations for the national polls on Tuesday morning.

“The meeting will be chaired by EC chairman Mohd Hashim Abdullah who will discuss on GE14 key dates such as writ and notice of election, nomination day, early voting day, polling day and electoral rolls that will be used in GE14, as well as other necessary preparations,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“A press conference will also be held at 12pm after the meeting.”

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the dissolution of parliament last Friday, as his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition gears up for one of its toughest elections since independence in 1957.

Polling must be held within 60 days of a dissolution.

Later on Saturday, Mr Najib announced a raft of manifesto pledges targeting key voter bases. He promised incentives for ethnic Malays and palm oil operators, promising to steer the country on a path of continued development and announcing measures to tackle the rising cost of living.

Mr Najib and his coalition face an unprecedented challenge from his former mentor and former prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad who has joined hands with old foes in the federal Pakatan Harapan opposition pact and is their candidate for premier.

Dr Mahathir, 92, turned on Mr Najib after news broke of billions of dollars allegedly misappropriated from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), including US$681 million (S$894 million) in funds that found their way into the prime minister’s personal accounts.

Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing and local authorities have cleared him.

The premier is also under pressure to deliver an emphatic win, as he struggles to appease Malaysians unhappy with rising costs and a multi-billion dollar scandal at a state fund he founded.

Analysts say Mr Najib is still widely expected to win, but a significant loss of seats — especially for his United Malay National Organisation (Umno), the lynchpin of BN —  would leave him open to a leadership challenge. AGENCIES