Malaysians ‘still angry’ over 2018 election set to vote amid political strife, rocky economy
- Many voters are tired of the constant politicking and remain bitter over the ‘backdoor robbery’ move which saw politicians undoing the results of the watershed 2018 election
- But Malaysians have differing opinions on how best to avoid a return of Umno to pre-2018 strength, with some still counting on Pakatan Harapan and others looking to new parties like youth-centric Muda
The PH administration was torpedoed by a coup hatched in a luxury hotel – dubbed the “Sheraton Move” – by Umno and their allies, who then formed their own government without a single vote being cast for them.
“Since then, whenever there’s something that didn’t suit them, they’ll cause trouble and topple the government and set up a new one to their liking,” said Kamal, whose vote will be cast in the staunchly Malay conservative seat of Kuala Kangsar – a long-time bastion of Umno.
The last two years have been the most turbulent in Malaysian politics in recent history, with the rise and fall of three prime ministers and an economy only just recovering from the pandemic.
Many voters say they do not wish to see a return of Umno to its pre-2018 strength, but diverge on how to avoid that outcome. Some are putting their faith in a rebound by the PH coalition, while others are looking to fresh faces, having lost confidence in the ageing cast of politicians who dominate Malaysia’s politics.