At a night market north of the Malaysian capital, Ezat Nasir paced up and down as he awaited the arrival of anti-government activists. An avowed supporter of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling party, his job was to scare the group away.
Campaigners with the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections drove past the bazaar -- bustling with families enjoying a balmy Saturday evening -- and left the township of Bukit Sentosa without stopping to distribute leaflets. "Sorry, due to security reason," a member of the convoy texted Bloomberg News.