Reuters/Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak faces a test of his popularity this week in two by-elections that come hard on the heels of calls by the country’s former long-time leader, Mahathir Mohamed, for him to step down.
The influential Mahathir, 89, has intensified attacks on Najib in recent weeks, criticising him for his management of the economy and scandals arising from debt-laden state fund 1MDB and the murder of a Mongolian model nine years ago. Mahathir has said the ruling United Malays National Organisation risks losing the next election, due by 2018, if Najib remains its leader.
Najib’s government has drawn criticism over a new tax on goods and services, with 10,000 demonstrators turning out last Friday in the biggest show of public dissent since protests sparked by allegations of election fraud after Najib’s re-election two years ago.
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which has led the multi-ethnic southeast Asian nation since independence in 1957, is widely expected to win today’s election for its traditional stronghold of Rompin in the eastern state of Pahang.