Anwar declares "it's now or never" for Malaysia Voters streamed to polling stations on Sunday in Malaysia's closest fought election since the country's independence, pitting an incumbent government in power for decades against a resurgent opposition fighting on an anti-corruption platform. However early signs of minor irregularities threatened to complicate the outcome. The administration of prime minister Najib Razak and his United National Malays Organisation hopes to retain its unbroken record in power ever since Malaysian independence from Britain in 1957. It is running on its record of economic stewardship and maintaining a peaceful balance between Malaysia's three main ethnic groups, made up of majority Malays, Chinese and Indians. But it faces a tough challenge from Pakatan Rakyat (people's alliance), a coalition of three opposition parties led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Pakatan is riding a wave of optimism that disaffection with corruption and cronyism, built up over the years of Umno domination, will convince enough disaffected majority Malays, as well as Chinese, to vote for a change of government. In spite of searing morning temperatures, voters formed a long line outside a polling station at a school in the Bangsar district of Kuala Lumpur, where Mr Anwar's daughter, Nurul Izzah, is contesting her constituency seat in parliament. "In terms of sentiment it's very positive," Ms Izzah told the Financial Times, when asked how the opposition was doing. I am extremely optimistic but very cautious. You have to be cautious, this is Malaysia," she added, before heading in to vote with her husband. Pakatan needs to win 112 seats in the 222-seat federal parliament to win. It garnered 82 at the last election in 2008, when it robbed the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition - of which Umno is the biggest member - of its two-thirds majority for the first time. Political analysts have said that Pakatan stands a chance of winning the election, if voting is free and fair. The latest poll on Friday by the Merdeka Centre, a Malaysian research firm, said that 42 per cent of voters agreed that "Pakatan Rakyat should be given a chance to govern the country," while 41 per cent felt "only Barisan can govern the country." Mr Najib has said the election would be the cleanest so far in Malaysia, allowing indelible ink to be used for the first time, as well as permitting overseas Malaysians to use postal ballots. However voters were already complaining in some constituencies of problems with the ink, according to Keadilan, Mr Anwar's party in the coalition. There have been rampant reports of the indelible ink washing off easily. Using soap and other household detergents, the public and party workers are able to rid their finger of the ink," it said in a statement. However Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, deputy chairman of the Malaysian Election Commission, insisted that the ink could not be washed off. Making an appearance at the same polling station after Ms Izzah had left, he held up the hand of one of his colleagues in the commission, telling reporters: "He voted this morning and he tried very hard to wash [it] off and he couldn't." Challenged by a voter who said a group of policemen had some days ago been able to wash of the ink, he said: "Don't argue with me, this is not the place to argue. You complain but you don't know the law. Show me one policeman who has 100 per cent washed it off. Mr Wan said it was "impossible" for anyone to vote twice because each voter had a unique registration number. Earlier Mr Wan intervened in the street outside to halt two cars that were driving past displaying Pakatan flags out of their windows, in violation of election rules that make campaigning illegal on voting day. Malaysians living in Singapore, one of the largest communities of overseas Malaysians, were reportedly arriving in significant numbers to vote. Tony Fernandez, founder and chief executive of Air Asia, the low-cost carrier and one of Malaysia's most successful businessmen, tweeted that he had just arrived from London. Going to vote. Vote for a fairer and better Malaysia," he said. Mr Najib tweeted that it was an "exciting day" and urged Malaysians to "vote wisely." Mr Anwar was pictured on his Facebook page voting in his constituency in Penang, wearing a black "songkok" cap typically worn by Muslims. Earlier, he had posted a video on his page of the Elvis Presley song "It's Now or Never," commenting: "One of my favourite song [sic]. Dedicated to all PR [Pakatan Rakyat] supporters. It's now or never. Ini kalilah! It's time. Results are not expected until around midnight.