1st LD: Malaysians vote in highly-contested general election

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian voters Wednesday morning went to the polls for the country's general election, with the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition meeting a fierce challenge brought by the opposition alliance - Pakatan Harapan, or the Alliance of Hope.

The BN led by incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak is betting on generous handouts and the "proven track record" of the government to seek a third term. While 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, leading the Pakatan Harapan, is calling for a change.

Though most political analysts have favored the BN to win, the opposition seemed to have managed to raise concerns among voters on certain issues such as increasing living costs, adding uncertainties to the election.

People swarmed to polling stations in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and around the country, which have been decorated with campaign posters and flags bearing the symbols of various political parties.

The 15 million eligible voters are expected to cast their votes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time. The election commission said final results could be unveiled on Wednesday night. A simple majority of 112 parliament seats will produce a winner. Enditem