Malaysia is gearing up for a crucial election on August 12, when six states will go to the polls to decide the fate of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government. The regional elections will not directly affect Anwar’s majority in parliament, but they will be seen as a referendum on his performance and leadership since he took office in November last year.
Anwar’s coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), is facing a tough challenge from a conservative Muslim opposition alliance led by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin, who heads the Perikatan Nasional (PN) bloc. PN has gained popularity among the ethnic Malay majority, who make up about 60% of the population, by portraying itself as clean of corruption and championing Malay rights and Islam.
Anwar, on the other hand, has faced criticism for forming an alliance with his former rival, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which is tainted by corruption scandals involving several of its top leaders. Anwar’s deputy, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is currently facing 87 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust.
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