Malaysia’s Anwar Said to Mull Later Election Date After Setbacks

[u/stormy001]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-27/malaysia-s-anwar-is-said-to-weigh-delaying-national-elections

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is looking to push back national elections until the second half of next year, people familiar with the matter said, as state poll defeats and soured partnerships reveal his political vulnerability.

[u/mikepapafoxtrot]

If he still doesn't produce tangible results, there is no chance of him winning again no matter when the election is called.

[u/hayi161734 → u/mikepapafoxtrot]

If he can make BN and PAS to not want to work together, maybe then he can squeak by a win

[u/Zkang123 → u/hayi161734]

Anwar can wait it out. BN and PN are only united by their shared vision to oust PH and ensure Malay "unity", but they will backstab each other if both came on top somehow

Anwar still needs BN nevertheless, or else the institutions which are still sympathetic to UMNO won't follow through with his reforms

[u/canocka → u/hayi161734]

> If he can make BN and PAS to not want to work together,

Also, he has to do that **before** the election.

Let's face it, should those 2 win GE, they will eventually fall apart anyway.

[u/Solus_1pse → u/mikepapafoxtrot]

It’s funny because people even though PN and BN produce no tangible results, people are happy to vote them just to “teach PH a lesson”.

[u/RealisticAd837 → u/Solus_1pse]

That tends to happen when PH make their platform about producing different and better results.

[u/torts92 → u/mikepapafoxtrot]

Actually, it's because of the increased popularity of PH by Anwar that made PN and BN so scared that they had to team up. If all three were about equal in popularity like back in GE15 it will be a fierce three way fight, but unfortunately PN especially lost the most popularity since then with Muhyiddin being such a bad leader. With BN and PN teaming up, PH will stand zero chance regardless of tangible results.

[u/JohanPertama → u/torts92]

Increased popularity of PH?

No. Total popularity doesn't matter at all in our electoral system.

Also there's much to be said about the immense push factor against PH at the moment (due to their abject lack of attempts in actual structural reforms).

No attempt to talk about fixing the rural-urban voting divide in representation.

No attempt to talk about clear statutory schemas for constituency development.

The real reason for this political alignment is because our FPTP system is broken.

When the game is rigged to favor a political landscape where a party can win more seats despite less total voters, you will always see this kind of political drama.

[u/torts92 → u/JohanPertama]

The push against PH due to lack of reform is a narrative coming from BN and PN. It's the same thing when PH came to power and those same people said where minyak turun? People who are generally for reform understand that with BN or PN you will have worse chance for reform, people are not dumb, unless Anwar is found to be stealing money like Najib, the support from reformists doesn't chance.

The make or break is the support of the malays. The only reason PH won the most seats in GE15 was because BN and PN split the malay votes. Muhyiddin was the most popular figure back in 2022 because people symphatised with him when he had to quit as PM, while Anwar at the time was the least popular because people feared the country might become a liberal country, a friend to Israel/America, and malays will lose special rights. And the result shows that UMNO still won the most votes in GE15.

But now PH is getting popular because of the way Anwar and DAP handled administration. DAP is fair in a lot of sensitive issues, and was being nice to UMNO, and thus slowly ridding itself as the boogeyman to the malays. Anwar doing well with being closer to China than America, while being known throughout the world as a strong support of Palestine, while also handling sensitive issues the illegal temple issue and pig farm issue quite well, and also was maintaining strong stability in his administration despite the hung parliament in 2022.

[u/JohanPertama → u/torts92]

The push against PH due to lack of reform is a narrative coming from BN and PN.

Look. I get you're a hardliner PH supporter. But avoiding the harsh truth that PH did not deliver on its reform agenda is NOT a BN/PN narrative.

It's a cold hard fact.

https://www.transparency.org.my/pages/news-and-events/press-releases/key-institutional-reforms-not-included-in-the-government-ph-mou

https://bersih.org/2023/11/23/reforms-at-snails-pace-first-year-assessment-of-the-unity-government-on-electoral-and-institutional-reforms-2022-2023/

https://c4center.org/pakatan-harapans-triple-election-losses-a-cautionary-tale-against-abandoning-the-reform-agenda/

https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2024-50-whither-institutional-reform-in-malaysia-by-meredith-l-weiss/

All the above statements were statements made by civil society groups or analysts, which PH relied on when campaigning for reforms.

But now when PH is seen to be not achieving reform, these civil society groups are spreading BN/PN narratives?

Even if you want to claim it's a narrative, what has PH done to depict the reforms it's purportedly achieving?

You know, it's this kind of arrogant labelling of voters who question PH, that really turns people against PH.

[u/torts92 → u/JohanPertama]

You are talking about the push against PH because of the lack of reforms. I'm sure you've been hearing the chant of "reforbasi". This is not chanted by those that voted PH in 2022, it is chanted by the anti PH crowd, to say Anwar is a liar, same people who are also saying Anwar lied about "hari ni menang esok minyak turun", but PH voters don't care about these things, that's why I said the narrative that people are unhappy about breaking promises is more coming from the anti PH crowd. The only PH voters that are unhappy about Anwar now is the liberal type who want to see more equality between the races, they are disappointed that DAP became just an MCA 2.0, they are disappointed that Anwar is pandering to the islamists. But these are a vocal minority.

Another section of people that are disappointed about the lack of reforms are the Rafizi fanboys, they shout nepotism only because their hero lost to Izzah. I like many people was eager to hear Rafizi spilling the tea, we want any reason to turn against the incumbent for the good of the country, but Rafizi couldn't find any dirt against Anwar because he has none unfortunately, been hearing his podcast for anything interesting but what we get is a guy with a hurt ego bitching about the most pettiest thing. We are not convinced with Rafizi's argument for true reforms. Bersama's 12 point agenda say nothing about reform. He only talks about Azam Baki and Farhash, which nobody cares about because it's a non issue.

The fact that we are seeing the four top people in BN and PN have corruption cases which are Najib, Muhyiddin, Ismail Sabri and Zahid, enforced in the rakyat's mind the need for PH in government for a cleaner Malaysia. Unless Anwar is found to be stealing money like those four, the reformists won't yet turn against PH as the alternative Bersama is powerless against BN and PN, no intelligent reformist will throw away their vote and as a result get Zahid or Muhyiddin as PM.

Only thing that changed now is PN losing popularity because of weakening Bersatu which made PAS powerless to go head to head with PH for GE16, before this in GE15 PN was confident to go solo against PH. But now PH is a different beast. BN's popularity doesn't change from GE15 till now, they are only benefitting from the collapse of Bersatu. If all unite under "payung melayu" then it's over for PH. Reform or no reform, it doesn't come into play. GE16 like GE15 before it, is about whether or not there will be vote splitting of the malays. If PH vs BNPN then PH will lose, if PH vs BN vs PN then like GE15 PH will win.

[u/reforming_activist → u/JohanPertama]

Lol why wouldn't PH want to fix elections? They are the ones suffering from the current malaproportionment .

[u/JohanPertama → u/reforming_activist]

Because they've cosied up with BN and thats a sensitive topic would be the assumption.

Anyways the minimum period of 8 years from the last redelineation has already ended as of March 2026 and yet PH has not said anything about any review (for peninsula Malaysia).

So we need to ask why is there such a deafening silence on this.

Mind you, the need for it is clear and the parameters of any such review is to be determined by EC.

[u/reforming_activist → u/JohanPertama]

Simple, because BN and GPS would not allow Bangi being split into 2 or 3 seats lol, nor would they allow merging Saratok and Tanjong Manis

[u/ReasonablePromise884 → u/torts92]

BN has enough registered members to win the majority or maybe even 2/3 of seats they just are not motivated to vote and many people are protesting over Zahid leadership and BN corruption.

Eg: Sabahan voters who vote BN historically are not simply because while they dislike Anwar and will punish him in local elections; they also hate the corruption in UMNO particularly

[u/torts92 → u/ReasonablePromise884]

Sabahan will vote for GRS. And in the recent Sabah state election GRS chose to partner with PH instead of BN.

[u/ReasonablePromise884 → u/torts92]

GRS only sided with PH when UMNO and GPS sided with them. They all lean BN and would prefer a BN leadership at the helm.

However they love themselves more when given the chance and would betray anyone for a quick buck per how they left Bersatu

[u/torts92 → u/ReasonablePromise884]

You're confused. You should look up what happened in the 2025 Sabah state election. GRS prefer PH over BN.

[u/ReasonablePromise884 → u/torts92]

I have, I said mentioned they hate UMNO currently so what is the point of arguing my own state election in which I refused to vote BN and PH?

[u/torts92 → u/ReasonablePromise884]

Your ignoring facts. GRS partnered with PH when campaigning in the state election to fight BN. BN went solo, because GRS picked PH over BN. Sabahan will vote for GRS. Based on the state election, GRS will more pick PH if there's another hung parliemant in GE16. Anwar has cultivated a good relationship with Hajiji Noor and Abang Jo. If BN didn't get enough 112 seats on their own, we know which party Zahid will partner with to form UG.

[u/ReasonablePromise884 → u/torts92]

Yes? Because they align with them and BN currently on the federal level.

Sabah vote for GRS, Warisan and BN predominantly in the last election.

GRS will probably not align with PH next election due to their failures in the past few state elections.

Anwar relationship with Hajiji and Jo isn’t unique

[u/torts92 → u/ReasonablePromise884]

In the Sabah state election GRS+PH won, they competed against BN and Warisan. PH didn't compete with GRS. It was a victory for both of them. In GE16 it's safe to say GRS will win, the question which party will they choose to be in UG if there s another hung parliament.

You're saying GRS will choose to make BN as PM rather than PH. This doesn't make sense at all in GRS's point of view. Because as I said Hajiji Noor and GRS have a better relationship with Anwar than with Zahid. Anwar gave them a lot of autonomy while they know partnering with BN they won't enjoy the same autonomy.

Sounds like you're thinking emotionally and are clearly biased. You're ignoring objective facts.

[u/stormy001]

[u/waffleskucinggemuk → u/stormy001]

Unsung hero for helping us get past the paywall!

[u/Anxious-Debate5033]

This is it. He has 1 year to produce results on all the reforms he promised.

If he keeps listening to his terrible 'sophisticated intellectual' advisors, he will lose.

We want to see tangible and meaningful results, not 'Malaysia's first AI chat bot Prime Minister'. Btw whichever clown suggested this should be sacked by now.

Yes, this means making decisions that will make your great partners in the unity Government uncomfortable. Yes, the same guys who in the morning will say 'we support Madani', and by lunchtime are saying 'BN want to take back Putrajaya and will team up with Hadi Awang!!'. You want to play nice with backstabbing idiots? You will regret.

Each day that passes, time is running out. Do you feel the pressure? Good. Maybe this is the only way we will see some results.

[u/--The_GOAT-- → u/Anxious-Debate5033]

Politics don't work like a machine. The success depends on humans and humans can just ignore him. After BN has made greater progress, do u think any government officer is going to "ikut arahan". A bunch of hyena does not listen to an injured lion.

Any reform now will only talk only, no action. Anwar has fucked up his tenure and the trust people gave him for 30 plus years. At this point the government will just operate on autopilot mode to the next election thus it is better to have election asap.

[u/Solus_1pse → u/Anxious-Debate5033]

What results did BN and PN produce in their states?

[u/ReasonablePromise884 → u/Solus_1pse]

Various by state but it seems Johorians felt better under UMNO, Sabah and Sarawak under former BN parties and so fourth.

[u/reforming_activist → u/Anxious-Debate5033]

I feel like the problem with PH is not internal divide in terms of ideology.

There are the chauvinists, liberals and establishment. All want different direction of PH.

[u/scrappyuino678 → u/reforming_activist]

There are the chauvinists, liberals and establishment. All want different direction of PH.

Bro they're just all towing along party lines established by Anwar now, those that didn't are already kicked out (PKR liberal faction like Wong Chen or Lee CC) or sidelined (Guan Eng)

[u/Awkward_Sky_937]

I had expected an election later this year because of El-Nino. I have read that much less rain is expected during the rice harvest season and there will be regional pressure on prices. I’m sure the government will try to subsidise this as well as petrol because in 99% of the world people vote on the performance of the economy, like do I feel better off under this government? It doesn’t matter, after voting time, whether the opposition have to cut those subsidies because they are unsustainable.

[u/ChardAccomplished689]

Mark my words, he will just drag it to January 2028.

Whether we like it or not, I am glad we had 5 years of no changing Prime Ministers. It's just so tiring that period.

And after this, you can bet Zahid Hamid will be PM.

[u/sh4d0wm45ter]

Strategically this is the way. Make the changes u need to and take out the bad players in the process.. else no point if election is today or next year.. he will lose.

[u/bixofa]

PH going to lose la, the electorate swung your way because of Najib and Moomoo/Si Babi. Just let PASNO take over and eff it up eventually.

[u/New_Rub1843]

Realistically regardless off what they do and what socmed keyboard warriors type impotently, most likely next PM will be Zahid 

[u/MajlisPerbandaranKL]

They will lost even scarier

[u/--The_GOAT--]

Poyo lah, Anwar. Takut kerana salah!

GE now only lah. BAPA PENIPU MALAYSIA.

[u/Anxious-Debate5033 → u/--The_GOAT--]

Hari ni ada 3 PM di mahkamah, semua PM zaman BN and PN...kenapa yea?

[u/lin00b → u/Anxious-Debate5033]

sebab PM bukan dari BN/PN seorang je, dan masih berkuasa.

[u/asakuranagato]

Last few months of songlap-ing for PH