Polls will be ‘unofficial referendum’ on Anwar’s govt, say analysts

 

Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister last November after allying with former foes to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

KUALA LUMPUR: The elections in six states in August have been described by analysts as an “unofficial referendum” on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government.

While the state elections will not affect Anwar’s two-thirds majority in Parliament, analysts said his hold on power could weaken if his party suffers a major setback.

The Election Commission said voting will be held in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan on Aug 12.

Of the six states, Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition holds three, while the others are controlled by the powerful rural-based Malay-Muslim Perikatan Nasional alliance led by ex-prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“These polls are important because many people think that this is an indirect referendum on the Anwar government,” James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania, told AFP.

Oh Ei Sun, of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia think tank, said Anwar’s grip on power could become shaky if he loses one or more of the states held by PH.

“Subsequently, MPs currently supporting him may have second thoughts … which could translate into negative federal results for them in the next general election,” Oh told AFP.

Anwar became prime minister last November following a political impasse that saw PH win the most seats in the general election, but falling short of an outright majority to form a government.

This forced him to ally with former foes to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and approval from the King to form a “unity government”.

The coalition has held so far, bringing political stability to the country which had seen three leadership turnovers in as many years after scandal-tainted Najib Razak was voted out as prime minister in 2018.

If Anwar succeeds in wresting one or more of the states not under PH’s control, it would bolster his position such that “he is likely to enjoy a full term” as prime minister, Oh said.

However, if Anwar loses Selangor or Penang, Chin said, “it will be a major political crisis” for him. - FMT