Malaysia to hold general election on May 9

The election is considered to be the toughest test of the ruling coalition’s 61-year grip on power. According to the commission’s chairman, Mohd Hashim Abdullah, polls must be held within 60 days of the date of dissolution.

Candidates will be nominated on April 28th, meaning an 11- day campaign period. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the dissolution of parliament on April 6th, paving the way for the general election.

A man passes 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/Lai Seng Sin

Mahathir Mohamad, the 92-year-old former prime minister of Malaysia, is once again in the running to lead the  country. He said he would focus on defeating Prime Minister Najib Razak in the coming elections.

More than 64,000 officers and personnel will be deployed throughout the country to ensure the polls are free of incidents.