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The vote is underway in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, in a vote seen as a referendum for the unelected government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for seven months.
The outcome of Saturday’s state elections will not directly alter the balance of power at the national level, where Muhyiddin’s coalition has a very slim majority, but it serves as a key test of the prime minister’s popularity some six months after taking office. .
Results are expected later on Saturday.
A defeat by Muhyiddin’s allies could erode support among his coalition partners and increase pressure for early national elections, according to Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi.
“The stakes are high in these elections,” Looi said, reporting from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu.
“This is the first test for Muhyiddin since he took power in a political coup. Even within his coalition there are calls for snap elections to secure a stronger mandate. Now the general elections will not be held until 2023, but the results of this vote could have an impact on when the next parliamentary election will be called. “
In addition to the stakes, Looi noted, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim declared on Wednesday that he has won the majority support in the national parliament to remove Muhyiddin and form a new government.
“Anwar’s challenge has underscored how fragile support for the prime minister is, even within his own coalition,” Looi said.
Malaysia has been plagued by turmoil since February, when a reformist government led by Mahathir Mohamad, which included Anwar, collapsed amid bitter infighting.
Muhyiddin defected from the reformist government and seized power to form a new administration focused on Malaysia. Since then, his alliance has taken control of many states and many legislators defected to his field.
The opposition now controls only Sabah and two of the richest states in the country, Selangor and Penang.
Saturday’s elections in Sabah were called after a Muhyiddin ally launched a bid to take over the opposition-controlled local government. But instead of relinquishing power, the prime minister dissolved the state assembly.
Loose coalitions back the government and the opposition, but analysts say the vote is too close to call.
“A victory will strengthen Muhyiddin’s position, but a defeat will embolden Anwar’s attempt to regain power,” Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, told the Associated Press news agency.
Shafie Apdal (C), chairman of the Sabah Heritage Party, cast his vote at a polling station in Semporna [AFP]
Anwar, who claims to have gained the support of the majority, including lawmakers in Muhyiddin camp, has not released details as he waits to meet with the Malaysian king, who is in hospital for treatment. The king has the power to appoint a new prime minister or dissolve parliament for early general elections.
Muhyiddin has said that Anwar’s statement is a mere accusation until he provides evidence.
High risk vote
Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate at the Asia Research Institute at the University of Nottingham in Malaysia, said the choice was Muhyiddin’s “first major test.”
“If it fails, it will be on borrowed time,” he told Al Jazeera.
“His leadership is already being challenged from within and I think he is really going to face a real struggle to maintain his position as prime minister. The only positive side for him is that his party can survive and that can allow him and his party to continue in politics, but I think that as prime minister he already has borrowed time and a loss will make it much worse.
The prime minister has campaigned intensely in Sabah, promising development, and the posters of his smiling face, nicknamed “Abah” or father, are prominent in many constituencies.
In contrast, former Sabah leader Shafie Apdal urged the state’s multiple indigenous groups to reject Muhyiddin’s Muslim government and rally behind him.
Sabah and neighboring Sarawak on the island of Borneo are considered crucial for political influence, occupying about a quarter of parliamentary seats. The two states are rich in oil and timber, but are among the poorest in Malaysia. They have a higher level of autonomy in administration, immigration and the judiciary.
Sabah’s election is hotly contested with 447 candidates vying for 73 state seats. More than one million voters, many in rural areas, are eligible to cast their vote.
With coronavirus cases rising in the state in recent weeks, election officials have tightened the rules with health screenings and other strict precautions.
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