PRIME Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition – formed in 2022 to end political instability – is facing internal rifts over corruption concerns and slower-than-expected democratic reforms.
These, with UMNO pressing harder for a royal pardon for jailed former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak and a potential collapse of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) are cited by Reuters as the many reasons for Anwar to call for snap general elections.
In an article yesterday (May 29), Reuters said the Johor state election, with UMNO stating it will contest all seats without Pakatan Harapan (PH), is also having a toll on the Madani regime.
Praised for bringing a sense of stability in the country after the 2020 ‘tebuk atap’ chaos, the ruling coalition has been tested by internal divisions.
DAP will soon decide whether its members will remain in the Cabinet or sit in the Parliament as backbenchers.
Meanwhile, PKR itself is bleeding internally, with former economy ministers Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Ahmad quitting the party only to join a new party, Bersama, with the clear intention to fight against PKR in future elections.
The party also saw many of its cadres and grassroots leave following Rafizi’s move.
On the other hand, Najib has been in prison since 2022 for his role in the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal. Many in UMNO want him freed.
To make things worse for Anwar, deep divisions appeared again in Johor, with the Barisan Nasional announcing it will contest the upcoming state election entirely independently, bypassing Anwar’s PH bloc.
But Reuters says Malaysia has enjoyed steady economic growth and a jump in investment during Anwar’s tenure, but public discontent has grown over rising living costs.
“The government provides support and subsidies for fuel and other basic needs. But its energy subsidy Bill has ballooned to around RM7bil riggit (S$2.3bil) a month as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, straining its finances.
“Anwar may be pushed to seek a fresh mandate ahead of any move to trim subsidies or raise fuel prices, which would be deeply unpopular,” said the news agency, citing analysts.
And the silver lining for Anwar appears to come from the fragmented opposition group, with Bersatu bleeding after several of its MPs and leaders were summarily sacked for attempting a coup similar to the Sheraton Move against its leader and former PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Thus, an early election could also benefit Anwar’s coalition, with the rot in the opposition grouping.
“The opposition is currently led by PAS, the country’s Islamist party,” says Reuters.
“PAS took over leadership of the bloc in May after its key partner, Bersatu, headed by Muhyiddin, fractured due to internal rifts that saw more than a dozen party leaders sacked.”
But one thing is for sure if an election is called this year. It will be a free-for-all with various coalitions fighting against each other and smaller parties attempting to win more votes in the divide. — May 30, 2026
Main photo credit: CNA
