Day for voters to decide their future

The nation’s 12th general election is today with polling started right on dot at 8am in all 7,950 polling stations throughout the country.
At stake are 214 parliamentary seats and 501 state seats, the outcome of which are in the hands of 10.92 million registered voters.
On nomination day, the ruling BN won eight parliamentary seats and three state seats uncontested. In the opposition front PAS managed to win one state seat uncontested.
After 13 days of campaigning period, all political parties and their candidates stopped their campaigning at midnight yesterday as per the Election Commission rules.
Voters can cast their ballots until 5pm.
There are a total of 10,922,139 registered voters, of which 1,409,395 are first-time voters.
The election is expected to be a close one in several states but analysts predict that the BN will extend its half-century rule. BN is expected to retain it two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The coalition won 91 percent of parliamentary seats in 2004 elections, but its majority is expected to be clipped this time as it suffers a backlash from ethnic Chinese and Indians.
Dominated by Muslim Malays who make up 60 percent of the population of the multicultural nation, the coalition is composed of 14 race-based political parties.
Three opposition parties have formed a loose alliance for the elections, and agreed to field just one candidate against the coalition in each seat, to avoid three-cornered contests that have split their support in the past.
Vote wisely
BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also has urged Malaysians to come out and vote wisely.
"Don't be emotional... consider what the candidates contesting in the election can do. Think of our future... our children and grandchildren," he said in an exclusive interview broadcast live by TV3.
He said the voters should place their trust on the party that could fulfil their aspiration.
"I hope you will consider this when you go and cast your ballots tomorrow," he said.
Abdullah said the people should not be easily duped by the various promises which could not be fulfilled.
A rainy weather is also expected in almost all states later in the day.
Meanwhile the Election Commission said that the first result is expected to be known as early as 7pm while the attaining of a simple majority is expected to be announced around 10.30pm.
EC secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor said this was based on its preparedness for the election as well as the improved information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure it was using.
EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman expects about 75 per cent of the registered voters to cast their votes.