Malaysia heads to the polls for GE15

Over at bellwether state Johor, PH and BN are additionally set for a tricky tussle for the state’s 26 federal seats. In GE14, PH gained 18 seats whereas BN clinched simply eight. The Johor state authorities additionally fell to PH for the primary time in Malaysia’s historical past.

However in the course of the Johor state elections in March this yr, BN romped to victory because it captured 40 out of 56 seats within the state legislature, boosting its confidence in calling for snap polls.

PH and BN may also go toe-to-toe for Perak’s 24 federal seats. Since 2008, the 2 coalitions have been nearly equally robust within the state, an analyst informed CNA. This time round, PH has determined to go huge.

The seat of Tambun in Perak is the place the coalition’s chief and prime minister candidate, Anwar Ibrahim, will contest. Mr Anwar’s choice to modify from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan to Tambun has been criticised by his political opponents, who label him as an outsider.

Analysts imagine Mr Anwar’s presence and the eye he generates might push PH over the road in Perak, however he faces stiff competitors in Tambun towards PN’s candidate Ahmad Faizal Azumu, a neighborhood who gained the seat in 2018 by greater than 30,000 votes.

BN chairman and UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may also defend his seat of Bagan Datuk in Perak. Whereas BN has publicly declared Mr Ismail Sabri as its candidate for prime minister, analysts imagine Ahmad Zahid is gunning for the highest put up.

This can be a level that opposition coalitions have harped on over the course of the marketing campaign, prompting Mr Ismail Sabri to return out and defend his position a number of instances.