Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim nominated by main opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan as candidate for PM

Elections are not due until 2023 but Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has indicated they could be held sooner due to pressure from allies in his ruling coalition

The Pakatan Harapan alliance said it would be open to cooperating with any party ‘based on the principles and agenda of reform in the interest of the people’

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epa09077663 Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 16 March 2021. EPA-EFE/AHMAD YUSNI

Published: 5:30pm, 9 Apr 2021Updated: 5:40pm, 9 Apr 2021

Malaysia’s biggest opposition alliance on Friday nominated Anwar Ibrahim to be its prime ministerial candidate for the next general election.

Elections are not due until 2023, but Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said earlier this year he would hold polls as soon as it was safe to do so amid the coronavirus pandemic due to pressure from allies in his ruling coalition.

Muhyiddin, who came to power last year with a slim majority, declared a nationwide emergency in January and suspended parliament to focus on fighting the pandemic, though his critics have claimed he did so to stay in power.

Pakatan Harapan, the opposition alliance led by Anwar, said in a statement he would be their prime ministerial candidate for the polls. It again urged Muhyiddin to convene parliament immediately.

The alliance also said it would be open to negotiating and cooperating with any party for the elections “based on the principles and agenda of reform in the interest of the people”.