LANGKAWI: Malaysia’s veteran ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad will run at an upcoming general election on the holiday island of Langkawi, the opposition announced on Sunday, as he seeks to oust the scandal-plagued government.

Mahathir has come out of retirement and joined the opposition alliance to take on his former protege, Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has become embroiled in a massive corruption controversy.

The May 9 poll will be a tough test for Najib’s coalition, which has governed Malaysia for six decades.

But 92-year-old Mahathir, the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate, is still not expected to beat the party he led for years. Langkawi should be a safe seat for Mahathir — he helped develop the island into a major tourist destination during his time in office, and is well-liked there.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2018