Malaysia’s Sarawak state gears up for election viewed as test for Najib

Preparations are underway in Malaysia’s Sarawak state for its 11th election, scheduled for May 7, which has been billed as the biggest vote in its history and the first to be held since the corruption scandal surrounding Prime Minister Najib Razak and the 1MDB state fund was revealed.

Sarawak, on Borneo island, is the only Malaysian state to hold state polls separate from the general election.

According to the country’s Election Commission, there are 1.14 million people registered to vote in the election, which will see 82 state seats being contested.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the campaign has so far progressed smoothly without any untoward incidents, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported Friday.

He said most reports filed to police were about damaged posters, and added that 10 cases would be referred to the Election Commission for action.

Local and international observers are using the polls as a way of gaging how much damage the 1MDB scandal, in which Najib is accused of receiving some $681 million from the state investment fund, will affect support for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Najib, who was absolved of all charges by the public prosecutor in January, has denied the accusations and says the money was a donation from the Saudi royal family.

This week, the prime minister said he wants BN to win the vote with a significant majority.

“I want BM to win with a majority that we can be proud of,” he told supporters, as cited by the New Straits Times.

In the last Sarawak state election in 2011, BN won 55 of the 71 seats contested.