Malaysian bid to redraw electoral boundaries sparks anger

Kuala Lumpur: Hundreds of Malaysians protested Wednesday at a government bid to redraw electoral boundaries as polls loom, with the opposition slamming the move as a "scandalous" attempt to steal the election.

The electoral constituency bill was due to be tabled in parliament Wednesday, two days after the government proposed a law to combat "fake news" carrying a maximum 10-year jail term, that critics said was aimed at stifling dissent.

Electoral authorities say redrawing boundaries is a regular exercise that must be undertaken to reflect demographic changes.