The Malaysian Insight

SINCE the 2018 general election, Malaysia has had two federal governments, two prime ministers, five states changing their governments and a number of changes in menteris besar and chief ministers.

The Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) ruling pact only enjoys a two-seat majority in Parliament and even that support appears shaky with no firm commitment from its ally, Umno. 

Last week, credit rating agency Fitch cited political instability as among the reasons to downgrade Malaysia’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating from “A-” to “BBB+”.

The other reason was the substantial impact of Covid-19 on the economy.

The Malaysian Insight looks at the major moves in the political sphere that had led to such instability.

Out with the old, in with older?

The opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance made history in 2018, putting an end to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) 60-year grip on power. 

It was a tight race. The opposition won 113 seats – one more than required for a simple majority – and BN won 79 in the 222-seat Parliament.

PH’s choice to be the new prime minister was Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

However, he did not last long. Only 22 months, to be exact. 

Change in political support and alignment saw Muhyiddin leading a new ruling coalition – involving his party Bersatu, Umno, PAS, Sarawak’s ruling pact Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), MCA, MIC and some parties from Sabah. 

Muhyiddin’s own party was unstable, mired in a major crisis that eventually resulted in the ouster of Dr Mahathir and his supporters. 

As it stands, the ruling pact is PN, which includes Muafakat Nasional (Umno and PAS), BN (Umno, MCA and MIC), GPS (four Sarawak parties) and Bersatu.

On the opposition front, there is PH (PKR, DAP and Amanah), Parti Warisan Sabah and Dr Mahathir’s Pejuang, with no agreement as to who should be its prime ministerial candidate. 

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim claims to have a formidable support to form a government but that has yet to happen.

This is only at the federal level. Confusion and upheavals have also happened in numerous states, contributing to the political instability in the country. 

Perak

The most recent is in Perak. The state switched from BN to PH in 2018 with Bersatu’s Chenderiang assemblyman, Ahmad Faizal Azumu, replacing Umno’s Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the new MB. 

Following the change in federal government in March, Faizal retained the seat and was sworn in again, but this time the state was led by PN. 

However, last week, Umno pulled the rug from under Faizal by tabling a no-confidence motion, which he lost. Now Umno has indicated it is ready to work with PH to form a new government. 

Johor

After the 14th general election, Kempas assemblyman Osman Sapian from Bersatu was sworn in as the new Johor menteri besar, ending Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s (BN) five-year term.

PH managed to win 36 out of 56 state seats.

Then, internal Bersatu issues saw the party’s Bukit Kepong rep Sahruddin Jamal replacing Osman in April last year. 

However, a change in government at the federal level in March saw Umno taking back the hot seat, with Benut rep Hasni Mohammad becoming the third menteri besar in 22 months.

Sabah 

BN managed to win in Sabah at GE14 after the but defections from Umno to PH ally Warisan resulted in Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal becoming chief minister. 

The fight, however, continued as former chief minister Musa Aman from Umno refused to give up, and with Bersatu’s backing, attempted to overthrow Shafie in July. 

Musa claimed to have majority support in the state assembly, but Shafie advised the governor to dissolve the state assembly and call for snap polls. 

The state elections saw a battle between the Warisan Plus coalition (made up of Warisan, PH and Upko) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) (comprising Bersatu, BN, Sabah Star, Sabah Progressive Party and Parti Bersatu Sabah). 

The Bersatu-backed GRS won but the internal fight between Bersatu and Umno continued on who should be chief minister. 

The role finally fell to Sabah Bersatu chairman Hajiji Noor, despite Umno’s apprehension. 

Political commentators said it was the “defeat” here that forced Umno to “backstab” Bersatu in Perak. 

Malacca 

Here is another copy-paste limbo pattern, as Malacca swung from BN to PH and back to BN within 22 months. 

BN’s Idris Haron said goodbye to his chief minister post after GE14, taken over by Adly Zahari from Amanah. 

However, Adly was removed when PH was toppled by PN in March, with the hot seat going back to BN’s Sulaiman Md Ali. 

Kedah 

The rice-bowl state was also not spared from political upheavals. 

Before GE14, Umno’s Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah held the menteri besar post after Mukhriz Mahathir – then in Umno – was forced to resign in February 2016 due to his disagreement with then prime minister Najib Razak over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal. 

However, Mukhriz was appointed to the post again after PH won the state in GE14. This, however, lasted for 22 months when, following Muhyiddin’s ascent as prime minister in March, Mukhriz had to vacate his position after losing majority support in the state assembly. 

Jeneri rep Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, from PAS, was then sworn in as the new menteri besar. – December 7, 2020.