Malaysia: Parliament to be dissolved April 7 ahead of elections

Event

Parliament will be dissolved on Saturday, April 7, paving the way for a heated election. Prime Minister Najib Razak made the announcement live on national television on April 6. The Election Commission will now decide the date for the vote, which by law must be held within 60 days of the dissolution. Current expectations are that the election will be held in early May, ahead of the Holy Muslim month of Ramadan which begins this year in mid-May. Votes for both parliamentary and state assembly seats will be held in what will be Malaysia's 14th general elections. Some 15 million Malaysians are eligible to vote.

Context

Protests and rallies are to be anticipated in the lead-up to the election. In the past Malaysian police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protests. As a reminder, under Malaysian law it is illegal for foreign nationals to take part in demonstrations. Prime Minister Razak will be face off against his former mentor-turned-opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad. Recent opinion polls show the government's popularity is waning.

Advice

Foreign nationals in Malaysia, especially those in the capital Kuala Lumpur, are advised to take this important upcoming political event into account, avoid all demonstrations and political gatherings, refrain from interfering in domestic political affairs, and keep abreast of developments and the sociopolitical climate.