Hundreds of cases of Malaysian election violence have been reported since campaigning for tightly contested May 5 polls got under way at the weekend, police were quoted saying on Wednesday.

Malaysian premier Najib Razak and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday kicked off their rival campaigns for May 5 elections likely to be the country's closest ever.

Myanmar's charismatic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi made rare comments on Wednesday on sectarian violence in her nation, but said she was “not a magician” and will not be able to solve long-running ethnic disputes.

Malaysian police said they had released 32 armed Filipinos arrested earlier this week on suspicion of trying to join an incursion by Islamic militants in an eastern state, media reports said Friday.

Members of Myanmar's Muslim minority Rohingya community said Thursday they have been barred from a gathering to welcome democracy hero Aung San Suu Kyi when she visits Japan.

Malaysia on Wednesday announced a general election for May 5, setting a long-awaited date for polls tipped to be its closest ever as the long-ruling government seeks to hold off a surging opposition.

It's disappointing, especially after all the brouhaha over giving all Malaysians living abroad the right to vote.

Malaysia's leader has promised more cash handouts for the poor along with cheaper cars and homes, and vowed to take tougher steps to combat corruption as his long-ruling coalition seeks to fend off a resurgent alliance in upcoming national elections.

Malaysia's prime minister dissolved Parliament on Wednesday to call for general elections that will pit a coalition that has ruled for nearly 57 years against a resurgent opposition whose pledge to form a cleaner government has resonated with millions of citizens.

Malaysia's prime minister dissolved Parliament on Wednesday to call for general elections that will be contested between a coalition that has ruled for nearly 57 years and a resurgent opposition whose pledge to form a cleaner government has resonated with millions of citizens.