Major partners in Malaysia’s unity government have pledged to support the federal administration until the end of its term, regardless of the outcomes in the upcoming state elections. PKR vice president Amirudin Shari told CNA that leaders from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) reached a verbal consensus to ensure the federal government remains unaffected by the results in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
Will state election results affect the Malaysian federal government?
No, the federal administration is expected to remain stable despite the political competition at the state level. Amirudin Shari, who also serves as Selangor’s chief minister, stated that the coalition partners reached an agreement to ensure the federal government is not impacted by the polls.
While the agreement is not a formal written document, Amirudin confirmed the partners have reached a consensus based on verbal commitments. This arrangement is intended to provide Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with the confidence to lead through the end of the current term, which must conclude by the 16th general election in February 2028.
“With the support of GRS and GPS, the government is there. It still has a simple majority,” said Amirudin.
Why are coalition partners competing against each other in state polls?
The upcoming elections in Johor (scheduled for July 11) and Negeri Sembilan (scheduled for August 1) will see PH and BN competing as separate entities. Although they are partners in the federal unity government, recent tensions have led both coalitions to announce they will contest the state polls solo.
The friction stems from several recent political developments:
- Negeri Sembilan Crisis: In April, 14 United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) assemblypeople withdrew their support for Chief Minister Aminuddin Harun following a crisis involving the state’s monarchy.
- Johor Solo Contest: BN announced on May 16 that it would contest the Johor state election without PH assistance, a move that drew criticism from PH leaders.
- Assembly Dissolutions: The Johor state assembly was dissolved on June 1, followed by the dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly on June 5.
How many seats does the unity government hold in Parliament?
The unity government currently commands a majority of 145 Members of Parliament (MPs) out of the 220 active seats in the Dew
