• Malaysia’s general elections kick off on Saturday.
• Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition trying to reclaim power.
• Election will determine if political reformers can win again and appoint Anwar Ibrahim as PM.

Malaysia’s general elections began with the world’s longest-serving coalition trying to reclaim power four years after a devastating setback.

The November 19 election will determine if the Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition can make a significant comeback or if political reformers can win again and appoint Anwar Ibrahim prime minister. Campaigns began on Saturday.

Since 1957, BN, led by UMNO, dominated Malaysia. Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope, defeated the coalition in 2018.

Defections pushed UMNO back to power in early 2020 after the PH government collapsed.

Three Malaysian prime ministers have taken office since 2018.

On Saturday, scores of candidates, including Anwar and 97-year-old, two-time former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, submitted their candidacy papers at their seats, starting a 14-day campaign.

UMNO Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob registered to defend his central Pahang seat.

In Tambun, central Pekan state, Anwar filed his nomination with drummers and party banners.

Over 21 million Malaysians will elect 222 federal parliamentarians and three state legislators.

“The widespread assumption is that the previous ruling party Barisan Nasional will perform very well and it is highly likely that the only other coalition that can challenge BN is Pakatan Harapan,” said James Chin, an Asia scholar at Australia’s University of Tasmania.

Bad weather and millions of new voters due to a lower voting age add uncertainty to the outcome, analysts said.

The meteorological authority warned that intense monsoon rains would start next week, triggering flash floods in low-lying areas especially near rivers and seashores in Malaysia.

UMNO leaders demanded an early election despite flooding fears, so the prime minister dissolved parliament nine months early on October 10. UMNO feels it has the upper hand over a fractured opposition and before an economic slump next year after multiple state triumphs.

However, analysts predicted two new Malay-based political alliances in peninsular Malaysia could split votes among ethnic Malays, who make up two-thirds of Malaysia’s 33 million population.

Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, predicted “fierce competition” among contenders.

Looi attributed this to the inclusion of 6 million persons to the voter registration list.

Looi added, “That’s quite a huge figure considering this is a country of just under 33 million people.” The voting age had been dropped from 21 to 18 and automated voter registration adopted.

She stated parties will compete for these votes.

Analysts say they could be a wildcard. Since no one knows how this bloc will vote, there will be strong rivalry for their votes.”

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