Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak offers special prayers a day before the 14th general election at a mosque in Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia, on Tuesday. Photo: ReutersThe 14th general election (GE14) in Malaysia, due on Wednesday, has all the trappings of a potboiler. While Najib belongs to the United Malays National Organization (Umno), the major political force in Malaysia since its independence, Mahathir has been expelled from the same party. As a part of India’s outreach to Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and its relations with Malaysia, India is currently holding a large joint military exercise, ‘Harimau Shakti’, in Malaysia. Whatever the result, its contours, shaped by a buoyant opposition, will go a long way in determining which way Malaysia and its democracy are headed.

Source: Mint May 08, 2018 16:41 UTC