Mahathir chosen by opposition to run against Najib

(Jan 8): Malaysia’s opposition named Mahathir Mohamad, 92, as candidate for prime minister in an election that must be held by August.

Once Malaysia’s longest serving premier, Mahathir will battle against his own hand-picked heir, Prime Minister Najib Razak, 64. The coalition known as Pakatan Harapan, or Pact of Hope, said at its convention Sunday that Mahathir would remain prime minister until jailed de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, 70, is eligible to take over.

The opposition has struggled to make gains since dealing Najib his biggest-ever blow in 2013, when it won the popular vote and caused the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to take home its lowest number of parliamentary seats. A December survey by Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research showed that Najib’s coalition may regain its two-thirds majority in parliament, the Malaysian Insight reported.

---

Related Stories

• 'Wait and see' if Anwar’s majority claim is true: Mahathir
• Wither hope, Pakatan Harapan?
• Rough road to national reform in Malaysia

---