Second Malaysian state calls elections in crucial test for Anwar Ibrahim’s grip on power

KUALA LUMPUR — A second Malaysian state this week dissolved its assembly and called for fresh elections, setting up a key test of public support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing coalition amid signs of internal tensions. The chief minister of Negeri Sembilan announced the dissolution late Thursday, according to state news agency Bernama, paving the way for polls to be held at the same time as those in the southern state of Johor, which disbanded its assembly on Monday. No date has been set yet for either vote. While the state polls will not directly impact Anwar’s majority in the national parliament, any significant losses could ‌weaken his coalition’s ‌prospects at a general election due by ‌early 2028. ⁠Anwar said last ⁠month he would consider calling a snap poll if internal divisions continued to widen within his administration. There have been differences in Anwar’s ruling alliance, which consists of his Pakatan Harapan bloc, former rival Barisan Nasional, and a handful of ⁠other parties, on how to tackle ethnic and ‌religious issues in the multi-racial, ‌Muslim-majority country, and frustration has grown among his progressive allies over the ‌slow pace of reforms. Anwar has also come under pressure ‌from the once-dominant United Malays National Organization, which is part of Barisan, over its push for a royal pardon for former prime minister and UMNO leader Najib Razak, who was imprisoned in 2022 ‌for his role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. Pakatan currently governs Negeri Sembilan state, where an election ⁠was not ⁠due until late 2028, while Barisan leads Johor, where polls were not due until next year. In what was seen as a sign of the coalition tensions, Barisan has said it would contest the Johor state polls independently without Pakatan’s support. In Negeri Sembilan, Pakatan will contest all 36 seats, having won 17 at the last state election. Two other states, Malacca and Sarawak, are also due to hold elections in coming months. The Election Commission, which will set the dates for the state polls, has said that an early general election would allow state polls to be held concurrently, saving costs.