NAJIB RAZAK has finally picked his moment. On April 6th Malaysia’s prime minister declared that parliament would be dissolved the following day. That paves the way for an election within 60 days, most likely before Ramadan begins on May 15th.
The announcement came just a day after a government agency ordered Bersatu, a political party founded in 2016 by Mahathir Mohamad, a former prime minister who is now leader of the main opposition coalition, to suspend activities. The order was more of a hassle than a death knell. Dr Mahathir will continue to blast Mr Najib, while contesting the claim of the Registrar of Societies that there were omissions in Bersatu’s paperwork. But it is an indication of how stacked the poll is against the opposition.
The election is for both the 222-seat national parliament and assemblies in 12 of Malaysia’s 13 states. The ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), has held onto power for more than six decades. But its grip is...Continue reading
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