Malaysia’s stock market has underperformed – but the state elections could change that

THERE was a time when “election plays” were the rage in Malaysia’s stock market.

These counters, chiefly those linked to the once-dominant Malay party Umno (part of the then long-ruling coalition Barisan Nasional or BN), would draw dizzying activity in the lead-up to the country’s national polls.

Some of these politically-linked companies run by hand-picked bumiputeras were Renong Bhd, UEM Group, Malaysian Resources Corp Berhad (MRCB) and KUB Malaysia, to name just a few.