Low turnout feared in May Malaysia vote
Scandal-plagued PM’s fate may hinge on poll
KUALA LUMPUR: Elections that could determine scandal-plagued Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s political fate were set yesterday for May 9, an unusual workday vote with a shorter campaign period than during previous national polls.
Mr Najib, who is seeking a third term in office, is under pressure to improve his National Front coalition’s performance after support eroded in the last two elections.
The combination of the election being held on a Wednesday and the shorter campaign period is seen as possibly hurting voter turnout.
Analysts say lower turnout could disadvantage the opposition, led by former strongman Mahathir Mohamad, who was Asia’s longest-serving leader, at 22 years, before retiring in 2003.
“There is a chance for a lower turnout, especially for those who have to travel to vote. A reduced turnout is likely to favour the incumbent,” said Rashaad Ali, research analyst with the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
Past Malaysian elections were mostly at the weekend, though workday votes are not unprecedented.
The Election Commission yesterday also set an 11-day campaigning period, shorter than the 15 days in 2013 polls. The commission said that 14.94 million voters are eligible to cast ballots.
Mr Mahathir, who leads a four-party opposition alliance, has said a high voter turnout is needed for an opposition victory. In 2013, when the opposition won the popular vote for the first time, a record 85% of voters cast their ballot.
Mr Najib, 64, has been dogged by a massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund, which is under investigation in the US and other countries for allegations of cross-border embezzlement and money laundering.
A strong victory is pivotal for Mr Najib ahead of year-end party elections in his United Malays National Organisation, or Umno, which is the linchpin of the coalition that has ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957.
“I would consider this election the ultimate test of survival for Najib,’’ said Mr Rashaad. “If Najib fails to deliver a strong result, voices of dissent within Umno will surely grow louder, making his position as leader untenable. If he does well in the election, it would be the biggest consolidation of his position.’’
Mr Najib faces an unprecedented challenge from his former mentor Mr Mahathir, who returned to politics two years ago amid anger over the scandal involving 1MDB, which was set up and previously led by Mr Najib, but which accumulated billions in debt.
Opposition lawmakers said the 1MDB scandal had turned the country into a global kleptocracy and warned that re-electing the ruling coalition would destroy Malaysia. The US Justice Department says at least $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB by associates of Najib and is working to seize $1.7 billion allegedly taken from the fund to buy assets in the US.
Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing and strengthened his grip on power by firing critics and muzzling the media. Just days before he called elections, parliament approved redrawn electoral boundaries slammed as skewed in favour of the National Front and a ban on fake news that critics say is aimed at shutting discussions on the 1MDB scandal.
On Saturday, Mr Najib unveiled an election manifesto with cash benefits targeting rural Malays angered by rising cost of
living. His campaign slogan, “Make my country great with BN” — the Malay acronym for the National Front — has similarities with President Donald Trump’s 2016 election motto, “Make America great again”.
In 2013, the National Front lost the popular vote to the opposition for the first time, its worst-ever electoral showing.