Malaysia’s Mahathir warns coalition may last only one term ‘unless they change their ways’
- Mahathir’s coalition won landmark victory in 2018 but has lost five by-elections, including one over the weekend, and polls show waning popularity
- He also told the briefing the government had received five proposals for its debt-laden national carrier Malaysia Airlines
Mahathir led the Pakatan Harapan coalition, or Alliance of Hope, to a spectacular victory in a general election in May 2018, joining hands with former foes to end the 61-year rule of the Barisan Nasional coalition.
But Mahathir’s coalition has lost five by-elections since then, including one over the weekend, and polls have shown waning popularity among the public.
“We have lost five by-elections but they still don’t understand,” Mahathir told reporters in Langkawi, a resort island off the western coast of Malaysia.
“I told them in a democracy you need strong support from the people. But instead they fight amongst themselves and divide the people … They are not going to win unless they change their ways,” he said.
Nearly two years since the unexpected win, the government has been increasingly criticised for failing to deliver promised reforms on governance and human rights quickly and to protect the rights of the majority ethnic Malays.