Malaysia gears up for state polls in first real test for Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government
- Anwar’s fragile coalition is expected to retain key states including Selangor, but a big opposition win could affect stability and add pressure on him, one observer notes
- The state poll results are seen as a barometer of the support for Anwar and his unity government, especially among the majority Malay Muslim voters
Some 9.78 million voters – in a country of 32 million people – will be eligible to vote in the statewide contests in the Peninsular Malaysia states of Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu.
Selangor, which along with Penang and Negeri Sembilan is aligned with Anwar’s federal government, dissolved its state assembly on Friday, while Kelantan – which is governed by the Islamist-leaning opposition along with Kedah and Terengganu – dissolved its assembly a day earlier.
The remaining four state assemblies are expected to be dissolved next week, in preparation for polls that are seen as likely to take place in the last week of July or in early August. Polls must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the state assemblies.
Expectations are for the Anwar-aligned coalition to retain the highly industrialised states of Selangor and Penang as well as Negeri Sembilan.
“Losing even just one state would be horrible. In fact, reduced seats in their states are also worrisome,” said Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri, an associate professor of political science at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
A big win by the opposition alliance could put pressure on Anwar and jeopardise the sentiment of stability, she was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
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