Malaysia's Anwar faces crucial test in August state elections

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="ABS CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/11/24/20180904-anwar-ibrahim-map-gc-4471.jpg"/><figcaption>File photo of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Makati Shangri-La on September 04, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia said Wednesday it will hold elections in six states in August, a vote analysts described as an &quot;unofficial referendum&quot; on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim&#x27;s coalition government.</p><p>While the state elections will not affect Anwar&#x27;s two-thirds majority in parliament, analysts said his hold on power could weaken if his party suffers a major setback.</p><p>Malaysia&#x27;s Election Commission said voting will be held in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan on August 12.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/03/03/23/malaysia-anwar-says-wiser-healthier-after-political-imprisonment">Malaysia&#x27; Anwar says &#x27;wiser, healthier&#x27; after political imprisonment</a></li></ul><p>Of the six states, Anwar&#x27;s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition holds three, while the others are controlled by a powerful rural-based Malay Muslim alliance led by ex-leader Muhyiddin Yassin.</p><p>&quot;These polls are important because many people think that this is an indirect referendum on the Anwar government,&quot; James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania, told AFP.</p><p>Oh Ei Sun, of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia think tank, said that Anwar&#x27;s grip on power could become shaky if he loses one or more of the states held by his party.</p><p>&quot;Subsequently, MPs currently supporting him may have second thoughts... which could translate into negative federal results for them in the next general election,&quot; Oh told AFP.</p><p>Anwar became prime minister last November following a political impasse that saw his party win the most seats in general elections, but falling short of an outright majority to form a government.</p><p>This forced him to ally with former foes to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and approval from Malaysia&#x27;s king to form a &quot;unity government&quot;.</p><p>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.</p><p>If Anwar succeeds to wrest one or more of the states not under his party&#x27;s control, it would bolster his position such that &quot;he is likely to enjoy a full term&quot;, Oh said.</p><p>If Anwar loses Selangor or Penang, Chin said, &quot;it will be a major political crisis&quot; for him.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2708240" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

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Malaysia's Anwar faces crucial test in August state elections

Malaysia's Anwar faces crucial test in August state elections

Agence France-Presse

Published Jul 05, 2023 11:06 PM PHT

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Malaysia

Malaysia elections

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia state elections

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