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The victory in the state of Sabah is likely to strengthen Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s position as he faces a leadership challenge.
The ruling coalition of Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin won a key state election, in a vote that was widely seen as a referendum on his seven-month administration.
The victory in Borneo’s Sabah state is likely to strengthen Muhyiddin’s position as he faces a leadership challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who said this week that he had the necessary parliamentary majority to topple the prime minister.
Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and its allies won 38 of the 73 seats up for grabs in Saturday’s elections, narrowly taking control of the previously opposition-controlled state.
Muhyiddin previously said the victory in Sabah could pave the way for early national elections aimed at ending uncertainty about the stability of his ruling alliance, which has a two-seat majority in parliament.
Fractured government
Analysts had warned that the defeat in the eastern Sabah state of Muhyiddin could have spelled the end of his rebellious coalition government.
Muhyiddin came to power in March after forming an alliance with opposition parties following the surprising resignation of his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad.
Muhyiddin’s opponents have accused him of stealing power by swapping alliances, rather than at the polls, and his allies have been pushing him for months to call quick national elections to secure a strong mandate.
While the result does not directly affect the balance of power at the national level, it was a key test of Muhyiddin’s popularity.
Had he got it wrong, the coalition partners could have withdrawn their support for his government and forced a quick national poll.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said victory in the state of Sabah could pave the way for early national elections. [File: Lim Huey Teng/Reuters]First exam
But Bridget Welsh, a Malaysian expert at the University of Nottingham, warned that Muhiyddin’s problems were far from over.
“He passed the first big electoral test, but barely,” he told the AFP news agency. “He’s still a man on borrowed time.”
Muhyiddin has refused to reveal the number of MPs backing him, while the king, who appoints the country’s prime minister, postponed an appointment to see him due to health problems.
“He will use the victory to rule out any challenge to the federal leadership. Muhyiddin can now confidently lead a federal coalition in a general election, “Adib Zalkapli, director of political risk consultancy BowerGroupAsia, told Reuters news agency.
On Wednesday, Anwar declared that he had obtained a “formidable” majority to claim the post of prime minister, something that Muhyiddin rejected as a “mere accusation”.
The struggle for power comes as Malaysia’s economy is reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Muhyiddin has announced a 305 billion ringgit ($ 73.16 billion) stimulus package, which includes additional measures announced just three days before the Sabah elections.
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