Malaysia election 2022: Anwar ‘very optimistic’ about leading coalition government with corruption-tainted rivals

Anwar Ibrahim ‘pleased’ with Monday’s coalition talks between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, during which leaders said ‘stability’ was a priority

The multiracial PH and the BN bloc, anchored by ethno-nationalist Umno, have opposing ideologies but have been in talks since Muhyiddin’s PN made gains in the election

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Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s opposition leader (centre) speaks during a news conference on November 21. Anwar, who has come tantalisingly close to leading Malaysia during his tumultuous political career, is suddenly on the cusp of clinching the top job but a final hurdle stands in his way. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:53pm, 21 Nov 2022Updated: 12:45am, 22 Nov 2022

Malaysia’s reformist opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday said he was “very optimistic” of leading a coalition government with corruption-tainted arch-rivals, a move that could stymie efforts by another contender, Muhyiddin Yassin, to become prime minister after a deadlocked election.

Following Saturday’s vote – which resulted in a hung parliament – initial expectations were that Muhyiddin was in pole position to become prime minister as his Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance was seen as most likely to cobble together a simple majority.

Anwar’s multiracial Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance won 82 seats while PN – which includes the hardline Islamist PAS party – won 73 seats. The incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling coalition led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, won just 30 seats.

The multiracial PH and the BN bloc, anchored by the ethno-nationalist United Malays National Organisation (Umno), have diametrically opposing ideologies but Zahid and Anwar on Monday led a meeting of both sides’ top leaders.