Anwar's 'perfect storm'? Anti-graft crisis, party fractures and coalition jitters cloud re-election gambit
analysis Asia
Anwar’s ‘perfect storm’? Anti-graft crisis, party fractures and coalition jitters cloud re-election gambit
The premier is facing multiple challenges that may force him to call early elections, nearly two years ahead of the February 2028 deadline, say analysts and insiders.
KUALA LUMPUR: A secret meeting between his coalition partner and the opposition, a long-time ally rethinking their ties, a former protege-turned-critic, and allegations besieging the country’s anti-graft chief.
These developments that are occurring almost concurrently now pose potentially the most serious threat to Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his tenure so far, say insiders and observers.
They add that the pressure on Anwar and his “Unity Government” – a broad coalition built from several major alliances led by Anwar’s four-member Pakatan Harapan (PH) – has reached an extent that it may force him to call early elections, nearly two years ahead of the February 2028 deadline.
Of particular concern is a little-known meeting in Bangkok in mid-December, which reportedly took place between key leaders from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) - a crucial Unity Government member - and two opposition parties, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), sources told CNA.
UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also one of two deputy prime ministers, reportedly attended with party secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
Bersatu was represented by its former deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, and PAS by secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, sources familiar with the situation told CNA.
Hamzah was sacked from Bersatu last month amid a public spat with party chief and former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and after allegedly breaching the party’s constitution, according to a letter dated Feb 13 that circulated on messaging platforms.
Hamzah recently confirmed that discussions were underway for him to take over Parti Keluarga Malaysia.
Ahmad Zahid did not inform Anwar of the Bangkok meeting, according to sources in the administration who wished to remain anonymous.
The UMNO leader only acknowledged it after being confronted by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who had been alerted by Thai intelligence, the sources told CNA.
While Ahmad Zahid insists he and UMNO remain committed to the Unity Government, a senior businessman who consults regularly with the premier said “there are trust issues with UMNO now.”
PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR EARLY POLLS
Separately, pressure is building within the Democratic Action Party (DAP) – PH’s largest component – to push Anwar to hold the country’s 16th general election simultaneously with three state polls due before the government’s term expires, according to PH politicians.
The next general election in Malaysia is scheduled to be held by Feb 17, 2028, but insiders and analysts told CNA in an earlier report that preparations are underway with Anwar seeking to exploit the strong economy and the opposition infighting.
“The pressure is building against him (PM Anwar) as if a perfect storm is brewing,” said an owner of a boutique financial advisory, who has tracked Malaysian politics for decades.
“Early federal polls are looking like a near certainty. Sabah and Sarawak want it, and so does DAP,” former law minister Zaid Ibrahim told CNA.
The DAP – a staunch supporter of Anwar through his more than two decades as a progressive opposition leader – is widely seen as a Chinese-majority party, reflecting the views of the Malaysian Chinese community.
But its loss of all eight seats contested in November’s Sabah state assembly elections has exposed simmering disenchantment among its traditional Chinese voter base.
Once the vocal counterbalance to Malay-dominated politics, DAP is now seen by many as subservient in Anwar’s government. This loss of credibility through compromise is forcing a reckoning, DAP leaders privately acknowledge.
“DAP now sees (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) PKR and Anwar as weak allies. Many leaders want to leave PH and go solo upon Parliament’s dissolution to regain lost ground among non-Malay communities,” said former DAP state assemblyman Ronnie Liu, who remains in close contact with former colleagues.
Another senior DAP MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party leadership faces “heavy pressure from its increasingly disenchanted traditional non-Malay voter base”.
The pressure has prompted DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke to demand that Anwar decide quickly whether to align federal and state elections, and whether to maintain the current PH coalition framework.
“The election dates and the dissolution of the state legislative assemblies will take place within a relatively short period — within the next few months.
“So the consideration that must be decided by the prime minister is whether we want to continue the Madani government cooperation model … this unity government model, for the next election,” Loke said, as quoted by local media platform Malaysiakini.
He also announced last month that DAP will be holding a special congress on Jul 12, where delegates will vote on whether party leaders should resign all government positions - ministerial posts, state executive councillor roles, and positions in government-linked companies.
MACC WOES
Separately, Anwar is also facing pressure from the allegations of widespread misconduct at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), casting doubt on his pledge to tackle graft.
A key issue is the scandal engulfing the MACC chief Azam Baki.
Bloomberg reported in February that Azam owned millions of shares in public listed companies, allegedly breaching civil servant limits, and that businessmen had colluded with MACC officers to orchestrate hostile takeovers of listed firms.
The reports alleged that MACC officials used raids and intimidation to force executives into selling shares to groups dubbed the “corporate mafia” by media reports.
Azam denies the allegations and has