Kevin ZhangandFrancis E. Hutchinson

Opinion | In Malaysia, is Shafie Apdal vs Anwar Ibrahim a contest for opposition leadership?

The fortunes of Anwar, the current opposition leader, are on a downward trajectory, with Parti Warisan’s Shafie aiming to fill the leadership vacuum

Although he lost in the Sabah state elections in September, Shafie’s star may be on the rise again – and the country may be ready for an East Malaysian leader

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Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been assailed for his centralised and personalistic leadership style. Photo: DPA

Kevin ZhangandFrancis E. Hutchinson

Published: 12:00pm, 22 Dec 2020Updated: 1:39pm, 22 Dec 2020

On December 15, the Malaysian parliament passed its final reading of next year’s budget. The measure, which was passed 111 to 108, was – in reality – approval of the country’s biggest-ever budget as well as a vote of confidence in the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.

Led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the PN coalition has faced repeated criticism from former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition for being an illegitimate government – given that it was forged in the tumult of Mahathir’s resignation as prime minister in February and contains controversial leaders of the previous Barisan Nasional government.

In recent months, opposition members of parliament have submitted numerous no-confidence motions against Muhyiddin, which have been passed over by the parliamentary speaker on grounds of government bills having precedence. That said, rumours of disgruntled PN MPs breaking ranks to cross the floor have been legion. Given this, the budget’s passing is a big boost for Muhyiddin, and will buy him some much-needed breathing room.

Conversely, the political fortunes of PH leader Anwar Ibrahim are on a downward trajectory. Unease at what is perceived as his centralised and personalistic leadership style and lack of strategy have fed a growing chorus calling for new blood at the head of PH. Not least among the complaints is Anwar’s penchant for announcing parliamentary majorities that, ultimately, fail to materialise. The latest such attempt took place in September, when he claimed to have a “solid and convincing” parliamentary majority, yet declined to provide the names of those supporting him as prime minister.

This was because, most likely, these supporters included the likes of former prime minister Najib Razak and his deputy, Zahid Hamidi, two controversial leaders and current MPs of the PN ruling coalition. Indeed, in the days following this statement, opposition members such as the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) have stated their unwillingness to work with politicians either convicted or on trial for corruption, including Najib and Zahid. This decision has caused many to question if Anwar’s perennial struggle is for reform or is exclusively focused on his political ambitions.

In the end, these machinations came to naught, and the budget was passed. Indeed, PH’s parliamentary performance was not up to par, with its component parties not acting in unison at crucial junctures. Apart from veteran and one-time finance minister Tengku Razaleigh, all other PN MPs voted in support of the budget.

Shafie Apdal, head of the Warisan Party, was humbled in Sabah state elections in September. Photo: Bloomberg

Perceiving a vacuum, Shafie Apdal, president of the Sabah-based Parti Warisan, has sent strong signals that he is competing for the coalition’s top leadership post. Although Warisan is not a component of PH, the party has been allied with the coalition since 2018 under the “PH plus” umbrella.