Polling stations closed in Malaysia on Wednesday at the end of a cliffhanger election that pitted Prime Minister Najib Razak’s long-ruling coalition against a resurgent opposition led by 92-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition had met a fierce challenge brought by the opposition alliance – Pakatan Harapan, or the Alliance of Hope.
The BN coalition had bet on generous handouts and the “proven track record” of the government to seek a third term, while Mahathir is calling for a change.
Though most political analysts had favored the BN to win, the opposition seemed to have managed to raise concerns among voters on certain issues such as increasing living costs, adding uncertainties to the election.
The Election Commission said that 69 percent of the roughly 15 million registered voters had cast their vote as of 3 pm, two hours before polls closed.
Around 85 percent voted at the last election in 2013.
Most results are expected before midnight but the count may spill into the early hours of Thursday.
A simple majority of 112 parliament seats will produce a winner.
On Wednesday, people swarmed to polling stations in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and around the country, which have been decorated with campaign posters and flags bearing the symbols of various political parties.
At a polling station of Titiwangsa constituency in Kuala Lumpur, voter Ahmad Fizal said he hoped the candidate who wins could take the responsibility of the welfare of the area.
“I hope the candidate could help on the welfare of the people and the welfare of the region, no matter it’s financial assistance, economic assistance or any other assistance,” he said.
Another voter, Syed Hasanuddin Bin Syed Abdullah, said he hoped the next government could do more to improve the society.
“We do tend to have a lot of issues, politically and in our social imbalance, we have ethnic diversity so I hope with this vote we will not have any differences between Malays, Chinese and Indians, that’s a main thing,” he said, referring to the three major ethnic groups in the country. The 11-day campaign period culminated on Tuesday.
“If BN were given a new mandate, we will make Malaysia even greater,” said Najib, adding: “BN is the party of the future, BN is the party for the future.”
The BN has won every election since the country’s independence in 1957.
The pre-election survey published by independent pollster Merdeka Center on Tuesday said BN was set to win 100 parliament seats nationwide and the opposition 83. With these numbers, neither camp would have the 112 seats required to rule and the result would hinge on 37 seats it said were too close to call.
