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Soldiers queue to cast their votes at a polling station during the early voting for general election in Malacca, Malaysia, May 5, 2018. Malaysian police and military personnel casted their votes early on Saturday for the general election to be held in May 9, local media reported. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian police and military personnel casted their votes early on Saturday for the general election to be held in May 9, local media reported.

The early voters comprise more than 270,000 police, Armed Forces and Special Task Force personnel and their spouses, according to the state news agency Bernama.

The early voting took place at the police stations, army camps across the country, four days ahead of the polling day on May 9.

Postal voting is also available for voters overseas and those would be on duty on the polling, like journalists.

The Malaysian Parliament was dissolved on April 7 to pave way for the election. The general election will see the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional, led by Najib Razak, the prime minister since 2009, facing challenge by the opposition pact led by the 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, the country's longest serving prime minister.