TWELVE general elections have come and gone and the 13th edition of the democratic exercise is finally here.
Much has been written on the past elections, yet coincidence wise, the general election had been held during the odd numbered years on five occasions.
This includes the Federal Legislative Council elections in 1955 as well as the subsequent general elections in 1959, 1969, 1995 and 1999.
The democratic exercise was held for seven times on even numbered years and they were in 1964, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2004 and 2008. The 13th general election this year will be the sixth time it is held in an odd numbered year.
Election years in Malaysia in the past had one way or the other been associated with major regional and global sporting events.
For instance, the Southeast Asian Games was first held in 1959 in Bangkok, Thailand, and then in 1969 (Yangon, Myanmar), 1995 (Chiang Mai, Thailand) and 1999 (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei).
This year is no different as the general election will coincide with the 27th edition of the games in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, which will be held in December.
Elections in the past had also coincided with global sporting events such as the Summer Olympic Games: the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing).
Other multi-sport events which coincided with the general elections are the Asian Games, which were held in 1974 (Teheran), 1978 (Bangkok), 1982 (New Delhi), 1986 (Seoul) and 1990 (Beijing).
The Commonwealth Games were held in 1974 (Christchurch), 1978 (Edmonton), 1982 (Brisbane), 1986 (Edinburgh) and 1990 (Auckland).
Football competitions were also a major event during the election years, notably the Fifa World Cup and European Nations Cup.
The European Nations Cup coincided with three previous general elections in 1964 (Spain), 2004 (Portugal) and 2008 (Austria/Switzerland). This year, it will be held in Poland/Ukraine).
The biggest football competition, the Fifa World Cup, had taken place on five occasions when general elections were held in Malaysia.
This happened was in 1974, when then West Germany won the coveted trophy, followed by Argentina in 1978, the Azurris (Italy) in 1982.
Argentina won the Fifa World Cup again for the second time in 1986, and West Germany winning it for the third time in 1990.
The general elections in Malaysia had also been held on three leap years -- 1964, 2004 and 2008.
These three occasions were also the only time the country's general election had coincided with the United States presidential election.
The battle begins.....BN vs PR..
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