Zahid’s game plan is opening up
By Murray Hunter MALAYSIA’S unity government that was forged after the hung parliament of GE15 was always a marriage of convenience rather than conviction. Nearly four years on, with state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan delivering strong perf...
Nearly four years after the hung parliament of GE15, Malaysia’s unity government formed by Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is showing signs of strain. With recent state election victories for BN in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, the underlying fault lines are rapidly widening.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the UMNO president and BN chairman, has been advocating for an earlier general election (GE16) rather than waiting until the parliamentary term ends in early 2028. This preference is seen as a logical extension of UMNO’s recovery strategy. The strong performance of BN in recent state polls has bolstered UMNO’s narrative of a "blue wave" and given Zahid greater influence within the federal coalition.
The upcoming Melaka state election could provide further evidence of UMNO’s strength. Zahid’s ambition for the premiership, set against the backdrop of BN’s explicit willingness to form alliances, highlights the pragmatism that defines Malaysian politics. However, reports of informal discussions and resistance within PAS suggest that any Malay-unity realignment would be transactional and contested.
Tensions within the unity government, particularly over spending decisions in the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, have exposed internal divisions. UMNO ministers’ relative silence on certain reform bills indicates that the coalition’s reform agenda is not uniformly supported. While political cooperation remains conditional, social media amplification of criticisms adds to the sense of a more contested phase for the Madani government.
Zahid’s strategy is rational within the current political landscape, aimed at maximising UMNO’s position while the window is open. However, the likelihood of a change in prime minister, a reconfigured coalition, or an early election depends on a complex interplay of factors, including parliamentary arithmetic, royal counsel, economic conditions, and the electorate’s tolerance for continued horse-trading.
Until there are shifts in incentives from zero-sum ethnic politics to a more systemic approach, Malaysia’s political class is likely to continue prioritising elite bargains over lasting reform.
Written by urgent.news from The Vibes's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
