FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — As the bloodshed escalates in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, more troops are being dispatched, piling pressure on Prime Minister Najib Razak. There is, however, a political silver lining in this situation: Najib could use the conflict to his benefit by declaring a state of emergency, which in turn could allow for Malaysia’s polls to be delayed until June.

Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat.