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Malaysia votes in closely contested elections Malaysia votes in closely contested elections
(about 4 hours later)
Malaysians are going to the polls in what is widely expected to be the most closely contested general election in the country's history. Voting has been brisk in Malaysia in what is widely expected to be the most closely contested general election in the country's history.
PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition is up against Pakatan Rakyat, a three-party alliance headed by Anwar Ibrahim.PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition is up against Pakatan Rakyat, a three-party alliance headed by Anwar Ibrahim.
Voters are faced with returning the ruling party, in power for 56 years, or choosing an untested opposition.Voters are faced with returning the ruling party, in power for 56 years, or choosing an untested opposition.
Ahead of the polls, allegations of various forms of fraud have emerged. Ahead of the polls, allegations of various forms of fraud emerged.
The BBC's Jonathan Head, at a polling station in Kuala Lumpur, said queues formed there well before voting began. The BBC's Jonathan Head, at a polling station in Kuala Lumpur, said queues had formed there well before voting began.
Analysts say that for the first time since Malaysia's independence in 1957, there is a real possibility that the opposition may be able to unseat the ruling party. Analysts say that for the first time since Malaysia's independence in 1957, there is a real possibility that the opposition may be able to unseat the ruling party. Opinion polls suggest support for the two sides is evenly matched.
The possibility of an end to more than half a century of one-party rule has made this the hardest-fought election anyone can remember, our correspondent says.The possibility of an end to more than half a century of one-party rule has made this the hardest-fought election anyone can remember, our correspondent says.
The hunger for change, especially among younger Malaysians, has given the opposition real momentum during the campaign, he adds.The hunger for change, especially among younger Malaysians, has given the opposition real momentum during the campaign, he adds.
But the ruling party has significant advantages, he says, in the cash it has spent on crowd-pleasing hand-outs, and in the way Malaysia's parliamentary system over-represents rural areas, where the government's support is strongest.But the ruling party has significant advantages, he says, in the cash it has spent on crowd-pleasing hand-outs, and in the way Malaysia's parliamentary system over-represents rural areas, where the government's support is strongest.
Clamour for change? 'People do change'
Nearly eight million people cast ballots in the first four hours of voting, comprising almost 60% of the 13.3 million registered voters, the election commission said.
Barisan Nasional, while credited with bringing economic development and political stability, has also been tainted by allegations of corruption.Barisan Nasional, while credited with bringing economic development and political stability, has also been tainted by allegations of corruption.
But it remains to be seen whether Mr Anwar's coalition, comprising parties of different ethnicities and religions, can persuade voters to choose an alternative government.But it remains to be seen whether Mr Anwar's coalition, comprising parties of different ethnicities and religions, can persuade voters to choose an alternative government.
Mr Najib, 59, said he was confident that Malaysians would retain his coalition and even return the two-thirds parliamentary majority Barisan Nasional lost in the 2008 polls.Mr Najib, 59, said he was confident that Malaysians would retain his coalition and even return the two-thirds parliamentary majority Barisan Nasional lost in the 2008 polls.
"I asked myself, why are we getting more support from people?" he said during a campaign rally on Thursday. During the last four years, he said during a campaign rally on Thursday, the coalition had proved it could "protect and benefit all Malaysians".
"Because for the last four years we have proved that our national transformation has been able to protect and benefit all Malaysians." "The task of transformation is not over yet," he told supporters in his home state of Pahang on Saturday.
He told supporters in his home state of Pahang on Saturday that he wanted to "carry on with the trust" placed in him, saying: "The task of transformation is not over yet." Mohamed Rafiq Idris, a car business owner waiting to vote in the central state of Selangor, told the Associated Press news agency the ruling coalition had made "some mistakes" but he believed it would do its best to take care of the people's welfare.
Meanwhile, Mr Anwar, 65, said people's clamour for change meant that Pakatan Rakyat would emerge victorious. But first-time voter Bernie Lim, a banker, said: "I grew up recognising that my parents voted for the present coalition at almost every general election. This time, they voted for the opposition. People do change."
"God willing, we will succeed," he told the Associated Press news agency. Mr Anwar, 65, has said people's clamour for change means that Pakatan Rakyat will emerge victorious.
"People have enough of this semi-authoritarian rule, of complete [government] control of the media, of strong arrogance, of power and endemic corruption." "People have enough of this semi-authoritarian rule, of complete [government] control of the media, of strong arrogance, of power and endemic corruption," he told AP in an interview.
On a campaign stop in the north on Friday evening he told supporters it was "an election of the people fighting oppressive and corrupt rulers." He advised supporters "to remain calm, not to be provoked, not to take the law into their own hands, support the process".
'Support the process' "Unless there's a major massive fraud tomorrow - that is our nightmare - we will win," he told AFP news agency.
Allegations of election fraud have surfaced before the election. Some of those who voted in advance have complained that indelible ink - supposed to last for days - easily washed off. Ink allegations
Allegations of election fraud surfaced before the election. Some of those who voted in advance complained that indelible ink - supposed to last for days - easily washed off.
The opposition has also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denies.The opposition has also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denies.
"In the past few months we are already hearing rumours and unsubstantiated statements about the presence of foreign nationals being given IDs and then allowed to vote," Ibrahim Suffian, director of the independent pollster Merdeka Center, told Reuters news agency. Independent pollster Merdeka Center has received unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given IDs and allowed to vote.
Mr Razak's party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), said the flights had been funded by supporters and not the prime minister himself. The international organisation Human Rights Watch said there had been well-planned attacks against the country's independent media ahead of the polls.
It said they were routine efforts to help voters get home.
Speaking on Saturday in his home state of Penang, Mr Anwar said his party had advised supporters "to remain calm, not to be provoked, not to take the law into their own hands, support the process".
"Unless there's a major massive fraud tomorrow - that is our nightmare - we will win," he told AFP.
Rights group Human Rights Watch also said there had been well-planned attacks against the country's independent media ahead of the polls.
It said on Thursday that readers were unable to access several online news sites providing coverage of opposition candidates.It said on Thursday that readers were unable to access several online news sites providing coverage of opposition candidates.
Officially, just 18 foreign electoral observers are in Malaysia. They are joined by 1,200 local observers from 17 non-governmental organisations.
The electoral commission said on Saturday that the foreign observers comprised six each from Indonesia and Thailand, and two each from Burma, Cambodia and the Asean secretariat.