(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-14 14:01

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia will hold its general election on March 8, said the country's Election Commission on Thursday.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (L) speaks as his deputy Najib Razak listens during a news conference in Putrajaya February 13, 2008. Abdullah announced on Wednesday the dissolution of parliament after an audience with the king to prepare for the 12th general elections. [Agencies]

Candidates will be nominated on February 24, said Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia.

Candidates will vie for 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats.

Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will lead the Barisan Nasional into the election for a second time.

On Wednesday, Badawi announced to dissolve the parliament to pave the way for general elections.

The assemblies of all states except for Sarawak were also dissolved Wednesday after the chief ministers sought consent from their respective rulers.

The dissolution came 15 months before the expiry of the parliament's five-year term on May 16, 2009. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition swept to a landslide victory in the last general election in 2004.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said he hoped the general election would run smoothly.