As Malaysia’s election ‘war drums’ beat, is Anwar’s coalition done for?

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces increasing challenges in securing a new mandate, as his coalition government shows signs of unraveling. Experts suggest that members of his unity government are reverting to their original political stances to regain support from their voter bases, who are reportedly unhappy with the compromises made to form the coalition. This shift comes as threats of conflict between allies and defections to rival parties have intensified. Anwar was appointed prime minister in November 2022, with the condition that his administration include both allies and rivals, leading to a period of relative political stability. However, with his five-year term nearing its end in less than two years, these internal pressures are mounting.