In any election year, Kedah is vital to Mahathir - it is his home state.

CNN: FIGHTING WORDS

This past year, one of the winners was the Frangipani Langkawi eco-resort, located in the northwestern part of the peninsula in Kedah.

BBC: Sustainable travel in Malaysia

Large crowds have turned up to hear Wan Azizah Ismail, Mr Anwar's wife, in the belief that she will stand in the general election, possibly in Dr Mahathir's own constituency in the state of Kedah.

ECONOMIST: Mahathir��s winning ways

Born the son of a stern headmaster in the northern state of Kedah in 1925, young Mahathir was a hardworking student, the winner year after year of the English prize and editor of the school magazine.

CNN: Mahathir Mohamad

Kedah is also, as one Barisan activist puts it, "one of the places where Pas can pose a threat, " along with the nearby Malay belt states of Kelantan (which is already ruled by Pas), Trengganu and Perlis.

CNN: FIGHTING WORDS