Malaysia state polls: The age of political frenemies
What we are witnessing today in Malaysia is the rise of the frenemy: a political party or coalition that acts as a friendly partner on one stage, but turns into an outright rival the moment they step onto another.
In Malaysia, the rise of political frenemies is evident in the current state of politics. Political frenemies are parties or coalitions that function as friendly partners in one arena, but turn into rivals when stepping onto another stage. A perfect example of this dynamic is the relationship between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
While they are united in a unity government, they turn on each other during state elections, criticising each other's ministers who may sit next to them in cabinet meetings. Another instance is the complicated relationship between the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Initially fierce rivals, they were brought together in the federal government in 2020 following the collapse of Pakatan's administration.
However, conflicts over seat allocations led to a return to open warfare in the 2022 election. This same pattern of frenemy relationships is playing out in state elections, where parties align strategically to protect their interests. The complex nature of these political alliances creates confusion among voters, who struggle to understand the true nature of the relationships between different political parties.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post Academia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
