Malaysia’s Hang‑On Political Hang‑out: A Tug‑Of‑War Between Anwar & Muhyiddin
The last Sunday’s tally turned Malaysia’s ever‑moving political scene into a real‑time high‑stakes game of “Who’s Nations?” With a freshly hung parliament, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll land the winning seat.
MP Numbers: The Current Scoreboard
- Pakatan Harapan (PH) – 82 MPs (including the lone Muda vote)
- Perikatan Nasional (PN) – 79 MPs
- 73 from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu)
- 6 from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah
That’s all 159 of the 222 seats, leaving the rest up for grabs in the race to a simple majority of 112.
Where the Political Ties Are Snaring
MH (Muhyiddin) seems to have snagged an unexpected ally: Abang Johari Openg, the Sarawak premier, literally flew in to hop onto his “ceiling” and chat with the Parti Islam SeMalaysia chief, Hadi Awang. Hyaw‑! The IDP party is the new largest force in Parliament and is buzzing about “forming a federal government.”
Meanwhile, Anwar is wrestling with his own tangled web: the longstanding feud between his coalition and the very guys who might tip him over the winning line. A rumor sheet says Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) tried a midnight poker session with GPS, but the GPS‑welcome‑to‑Muhyiddin dinner might crush PH’s dreams.
Smack‑Down With BN & GPS
- PN vs. PH – PN refuses any handshake.
- PH vs. BN – Umno president Zahid Hamidi faces stiff opposition from inside his own party if he backs PH.
- GPS & BN – Their hard stance on PH’s giant, DAP, fuels dislike for the bumiputera‑friendly approach.
Some scholars are whispering that BN could do the job with 30 supporters, nudging PH to that coveted 112.
Iran‑Style Politics in Perak & Pahang
Perak walks in a very tight seat count: PN has 26, PH 24 – just one short of the 30 needed. BN sits in the remaining nine seats. In Pahang, a pending Tioman polling drama keeps the scoreline tight: PN leads BN by a slim 17‑to‑16 margin with PH snagging eight.
Why the Palace is Pumping the Clock on the Clock
Palace‑issued letters (yes, the royal typist is in the business) urge every key party to “form a majority government ASAP.” Muhyiddin, quick as ever, spotlighted the letter in a 3 am press conference, looking like the crown’s favourite contestant.
Crops from the Past
PH might have leapt to the front headline after the election, but it lost a ground‑war when Bersatu traded vests in Feb 2020. That created a vacuum for Muhyiddin to take the helm and later swap positions with Umno vice‑president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
In short, this hung parliament will be a roller‑coaster of alliances and unexpected turns. Keep your seatbelts tight; the ride is just getting started!
Note: This article has been adapted for readability. © Straits Times – Reproduction requires permission.
