Malaysia’s governing coalition will survive turbulence

Subject

Tensions in Malaysia's governing coalition.

Significance

A scandal over sex videos is causing tensions within the People’s Justice Party (PKR), a partner to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s Malaysian United Indigenous Party (PPBM) within the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. As the PH came to power in May 2018, ousting the Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance, Mahathir promised coalition leaders he would hand over the prime ministership within two years. Separately, the opposition United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the BN, has had problems with defections and corruption charges.

Impacts

• UMNO and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party will likely hold a large rally, publicly commemorating their new pact.
• PH legislation relating to good governance will very likely pass.
• A new rule requiring MPs and their families to declare assets by early October could lead to new corruption investigations.