Advertisement
Opinion | Anwar Ibrahim’s first 100 days: identity politics casts shadow over new Malaysia PM
- Islamist opposition PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang claims Anwar’s coalition government will soon collapse and not last the full five-year term
- Anwar needs to overcome communalism with state impartiality to provide stability to a country which saw 5 PMs in 5 years. His best hope is a growing middle ground that will judge politics based on merit instead of identity
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
3
Just before Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim completed his first 100 days in power on Saturday, the Islamist opposition PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang took aim at the country’s coalition government. He made a bold claim that the government would soon collapse, and not last the full term until December 2027, without providing details.
Such is the shadow cast over Anwar’s coalition and Malaysian politics.
Once having the same prime minister – Mahathir Mohamad – for 22 years, Malaysia saw five prime ministers in five years between 2018 to 2022.
Anwar’s PH (Pact of Hope) coalition first formed a simple-majority ousting the hegemonic BN (National Front) coalition dominated by the Malay-nationalist party Umno in 2018 but collapsed after just 22 months.
02:59
From prison to Malaysia’s new leader: Anwar Ibrahim appointed to top seat
From prison to Malaysia’s new leader: Anwar Ibrahim appointed to top seat
Then, the Malay nationalist party and an Umno splinter, Bersatu, joined by 10 MPs from Anwar’s own PKR party walked out of the PH coalition, in the so-called “Sheraton Move”, named after the hotel where it was plotted.
Advertisement