Former leaders look to make comeback

Campaigning for Malaysia's general elections started Saturday in a highly competitive race that will see the world's longest-serving coalition seeking to regain its dominance four years after a shocking electoral loss.

The Nov. 19 election will determine if Barisan Nasional, or National Front, can make a strong comeback or whether political reformers can secure another surprise win that will see their leader, Anwar Ibrahim, achieve a long-held dream of becoming prime minister.

Led by the United Malays National Organization, the coalition had ruled since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957. But anger over government corruption led to its defeat in 2018 polls to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan, or Alliance of Hope.