Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim Strengthens Position with Second Consecutive By-Election Win
Malaysia's ruling coalition achieved a significant victory in a by-election on Saturday, signaling strong public support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's unity government. Barisan Nasional (BN), a crucial ally of Anwar, secured 79% of the votes in a contest against the Perikatan Nasional opposition in Mahkota, Johor, as reported by the Election Commission. This victory marks a substantial increase in their winning margin compared to the previous provincial election, bolstered by a strategic alliance with Anwar's Pakatan Harapan.
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, secretary-general of BN's core party, the United Malays National Organisation, highlighted the success as evidence of public acceptance of the unity government formed in November 2022 after a hung parliament resulted from the general election.
This win is the second consecutive triumph for the ruling coalition in provincial polls, reinforcing Anwar's leadership after a period of political instability from 2018 to 2022. The victory is supported by a strengthening economy and currency, a fragmented opposition, and government initiatives to attract investment into Johor, a state neighboring Singapore. These developments aim to assure foreign investors of the government's stability and long-term plans.
While the Mahkota by-election result does not alter the parliamentary composition, where Anwar holds a supermajority, it may empower him to pursue politically sensitive reforms. These could include financial measures like ending blanket petrol subsidies, as part of efforts to improve the country's fiscal health. Anwar, who also serves as finance minister, is expected to present the government's 2025 spending plan on October 18, aiming to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP from 5% last year.
