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Joseph Sipalan

The political impasse in Malaysia’s government has regressed to a game of chicken, experts say, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the former ruling Umno party trading barbs and dares as pressure grows for snap polls with more than a year left to term.
Relations between Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and erstwhile rivals Umno have hit its lowest point since the two sides cut a deal to form a unity government in 2022, after a series of recent state polls that saw PH all but decimated at the hands of Umno.
The lopsided victories in Johor and Negeri Sembilan over the past two months have since emboldened Umno to demand that a general election be held immediately.

At the closing of the party’s general assembly on Saturday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was now up to Anwar to decide whether he wanted the government to remain in political limbo or seek a fresh mandate to rule.
“There are only two choices. One, get a fresh mandate through a general election; second, formally remove us [from government] and hold a confidence vote in parliament,” Zahid said as over 6,000 party delegates chanted “dissolve, dissolve” at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
“Do you dare? If you have the guts, do it quickly!... remember, the unity government was formed because of Umno. The prime minister became prime minister because of Umno’s support,” added Zahid, in some of his most pointed criticism of Anwar since being appointed his deputy over three years ago.
Ties between the reformist PH and Malay-nationalist Umno deteriorated quickly over the past two months, triggered by a landslide victory by Umno in the Johor state election in July that left PH with just a handful of seats.
The feud worsened a month later when Umno joined opposition Islamist party Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) to depose PH in the Negeri Sembilan state polls, even after Anwar approved the release of a royal commission of inquiry report detailing dubious dealings – mostly during Umno’s past rule – that led to well over 1 billion ringgit (US$245.7 million) in losses at state-run pilgrim’s fund Tabung Haji.

The long-time rivals had come together to form the government after a deeply split national election in 2022, following a decree by then-king Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah appointing Anwar as prime minister on condition that he create an administration that includes both supporters and opponents.
But Anwar’s dependence on Umno, which provides much-needed representation for the country’s Malay-Muslim majority in his administration, has driven a deep wedge in his own coalition as it struggles to regain the faith of its own supporters angered by PH’s failure to push much of its promised reforms.
“In almost any other government, a deputy prime minister openly challenging the prime minister in this manner would risk being sacked,” Asrul Sani, associate vice-president with strategic advisory and business consulting firm The Asia Group, told This Week in Asia.
“That Zahid can do so underscores both Umno’s leverage and the political constraints facing Anwar.”
The two leaders have been taking media potshots at each other on Friday, after Zahid borrowed the catchphrase “guru, hentikan, guru” (stop, teacher, stop) popular on Malaysian TikTok to needle Anwar over what he described as inconsistent economic policies that only confuse the public.
Anwar later responded on social media, urging his “student” to learn from “guru” on how to conduct diplomacy when announcing his arrival in New Delhi for the Brics leaders’ summit.
Both leaders notably used Gen Z terms like “slay” and “flex” in their messaging, in a clear attempt to engage a voter base that will increasingly decide the fate of political parties.

Youths aged between 18 and 30 account for almost 6.4 million or 28.8 per cent of eligible voters nationwide, according to the latest Election Commission data.
“They form a substantial segment of the voters, so it’s important for politicians to connect with them. But politicians need to do more than parroting Gen Z lingo to win their votes,” said Adib Zalkapli, managing director at geopolitical and public affairs firm Viewfinder Global Affairs.
For all the bluster, it does not hide the fact that Anwar is in a difficult position.
Voters have rejected his ruling PH coalition in three state contests now, starting last November when they were all but wiped out in the Sabah state election.
The result was a major red flag for the Democratic Action Party (DAP) – the largest member of PH – which forced its leaders to revert to campaign tactics from their days in the opposition to try and staunch the bleeding support.
Anwar’s People’s Justice Party (PKR) saw four senior leaders quit so far, including his daughter and party deputy Nurul Izzah, as criticism mounted over his alleged favouring of Umno over his own allies and at the expense of their decades-old reform pledges.
“Holding the 16th general election now would be a suicidal move for the prime minister,” said Mazlan Ali, a political analyst at the University of Technology Malaysia.
Umno could very well force snap polls if it quit government and withdrew support for Anwar, but doing so would paint it as a saboteur and only gain public ire, experts say.
Until and unless Umno makes such a bold move, Anwar still has time to reclaim PH’s support base before the elections, which do not need to be held until early 2028.
The first real test will come soon, with Anwar scheduled to table his 2027 budget in October.
“The speeches we heard are just political theatre for now. They only mean anything if the Umno MPs collectively resign from the government and vote against the 2027 budget,” said Adib of Viewfinder Global Affairs.


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Malaysia

Will Malaysia’s Umno pull the plug on coalition partner PH?

Malaysian voters show their fingers dipped in ink after voting during the 2022 general election. Photo: dpa

Voters in Ampangan, Seremban, in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state queue to cast their votes for the state election on August 1. Photo: Ushar Daniele

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaks at his party’s annual assembly on Friday. Photo: Facebook/mediaumnomalaysia

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid leaves the High Court after the court dismissed 47 corruption charges against him in 2023. Photo: dpa

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) announces his cabinet reshuffle in 2023 as Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi looks on. Photo: Handout

Umno seeks early Malaysian election to cement conservative Malay bloc

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaks at his party's annual assembly on Friday. Photo: Facebook/mediaumnomalaysia

Umno delegates pray at the annual assembly on Friday. Photo: Facebook/mediaumnomalaysia

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (centre) celebrates Barisan Nasional’s win in Negeri Sembilan on August 1. Photo: Facebook/barisanasional

Malaysia’s PAS eyes new pecking order as it rekindles ties with Umno

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (centre, in vest) attends the party’s annual convention Kota Bharu, Malaysia, on Friday. Photo: Facebook/abdulhadiawang

PAS delegates attend the party’s annual convention in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, on Friday. Photo: Facebook/abdulhadiawang

Supporters of PAS wave flags in Pekan, Malaysia. The party holds 43 parliamentary seats and governs Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis. Photo: AFP

PAS delegates at the party’s annual convention on Friday. Photo: Facebook/abdulhadiawang

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that the federal government remains stable. Photo: EPA

Palace plot in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan entangles Umno leaders

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: EPA-EFE

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi addresses supporters following the announcement of Negeri Sembilan’s election results in August. Photo: Facebook/mediaumnomalaysia

The various state sultans of Malaysia pose for photographs in 2023 before the election for the country’s king at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: EPA-EFE

PAS chief to face Malaysian police over claims US would help ‘topple’ government

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (centre) attends the party’s recent annual congress. Photo: Handout

PAS supporters take a selfie with party president Abdul Hadi Awang (centre) during its annual convention in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, on Friday. Photo: Facebook/abdulhadiawang

US President Barack Obama (second from right) with Malaysia’s King Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (second from left), Queen Haminah Hamidun and Prime Minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur in April 2014. Photo: AP

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) greets performers during the 69th Independence Day celebration in Putrajaya on August 31. Photo: Reuters

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Umno has been buoyed by recent state victories and growing talk of a new alignment to consolidate the Malay vote


Umno has been buoyed by recent state victories and growing talk of a new alignment to consolidate the Malay vote.


Will Malaysia’s Umno pull the plug on coalition partner PH?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Umno has been buoyed by recent state victories and growing talk of a new alignment to consolidate the Malay vote

Umno has been buoyed by recent state victories and growing talk of a new alignment to consolidate the Malay vote