Malaysia heads to polls on election day

Millions of voters in Malaysia have been casting ballots in an election that pits the country's leader against his 92-year-old former mentor.

Opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad is facing off against PM Najib Razak's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

The vote is the most hotly-contested in the history of Malaysia, where BN has ruled for 61 years. An opposition victory would be unprecedented.

Critics have raised concerns the election will not be free and fair.

Malaysian politics has been dominated since independence by the BN coalition and its major party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

But this once powerful coalition has seen its popularity decline.

In the last election, in 2013, the opposition made unprecedented gains - winning the popular vote - but failed to win enough seats to form a government.

In a dramatic turn of events, then opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years jail on sodomy charges, which he claimed were part of a political smear campaign.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS
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