Malaysian PM set to dissolve parliament, allows for new elections

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Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday announced the dissolution of the parliament to pave the way for the general elections to be held within 60 days.

"I would like to inform the people that I met the king... and sought his permission for parliament to be dissolved on Saturday, April 7," Najib said on state television.

Najib has been burdened by a multi-billion-US-dollar scandal linked to a state fund and is under pressure to deliver an emphatic win for his ruling coalition as he struggles to appease voters unhappy with rising living costs and an unprecedented challenge by his former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad.

Najib said he met King Sultan Muhammad V to gain approval for the dissolution.

“The king has recommended for parliament to be dissolved effective Saturday, April 7,” Najib said in a special announcement.

Polling day must be held within 60 days from the dissolution of parliament. The Election Commission is expected to meet within the week to announce a date for the vote.

A live telecast of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak addressing the nation on the dissolution of Parliament at an electronics shop in Port Klang, Malaysia, April 6, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The ruling coalition headed by Najib has seen its support drop in recent years, and a scandal surrounding sovereign wealth fund 1MDB that captured global headlines has added to their unpopularity.

Billions of dollars were allegedly looted from the fund that Najib set up, in a seemingly audacious campaign of fraud and money-laundering which is being investigated in several countries.

The leader and fund deny any wrongdoing.

Najib has so far weathered the 1MDB scandal by lurching sharply to the right with a crackdown that has seen numerous critics arrested, and analysts believe he is on course to win a third term.

He stoked further controversy last week by pushing a law through parliament to redraw the electoral map that critics say greatly tilts the election in favour of his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Victory is however less certain due to the return of Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia at the head of BN for 22 years but has now joined the opposition, and enjoys much support among the country's Muslim Malay majority.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters