Voting in Malaysia’s tense general election ended in high drama on Wednesday, after officials shut voting booths nationwide despite many people remaining in line to cast their ballots and a last-minute plea from an electoral watchdog for polling stations to remain open past the 5pm cut-off time. He said this was to ensure votes cast past the “gazetted” voting period would not later be challenged by competing parties. The Bersih electoral watchdog had earlier told voters not to “go away even if the Election Commission says you are too late”. The general election voting period cannot be extended, said Election Commission chairman Hashim Abdullah in an interview on Wednesday (May 9) evening.