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The Latest on Southeast Asia: December 8, 2022
Photo: MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
On November 19, almost 15 million voters cast their ballots in Malaysia’s 15th general election. Results revealed a hung parliament for the first time in the country’s history, with no coalition securing a majority. Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan came closest with 82 seats, while former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional took 73 seats. Barisan Nasional, the coalition led by the former ruling United Malays’ National Organisation (UMNO), took an underwhelming 30 seats.
Support from 112 seats is needed to secure a majority in parliament. Longtime opposition leader Anwar emerged victorious on November 24, becoming Malaysia’s 10th prime minister. Anwar’s unity government will comprise Pakatan Harapan, its longtime bête noire Barisan Nasional, and the East Malaysian coalitions of Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. The coalition parties are expected to sign a pact for political stability ahead of a confidence vote on December 19, the first day of the new parliament. Perikatan Nasional, consisting of Muhyiddin’s Bersatu alongside the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), declined to join the unity government and will act as the opposition bloc.
On December 2, Anwar unveiled his new cabinet, with a mix of new and familiar names. Most notably, he named himself finance minister. This is not unusual, given that former prime ministers Najib Razak and Mahathir Mohamad also served concurrently in the role during their terms. Anwar previously served as finance minister from 1991 to 1998, only leaving the post after being fired over a disagreement with Mahathir about how to handle the Asian Financial Crisis. Another move that raised eyebrows was the decision to appoint Barisan Nasional leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as one of two deputy prime ministers. This is Zahid’s second time in the role, after serving from 2015 to 2018, but he returns facing 47 unresolved charges of corruption and money laundering. Despite Barisan Nasional’s disappointing performance at the polls, Anwar appears to have given the role to Zahid as the price of UMNO’s support.
Anwar’s hand-picked cabinet is slimmer than his predecessor’s, with 28 ministers compared to 31 under former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The party breakdown reflects his government’s power-sharing arrangement—14 ministers are from Pakatan Harapan, 6 from Barisan Nasional, 5 from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and 1 from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. Ministries that handle domestic affairs, such as the Home, Transport, Agriculture and Food Security, Economic, and Education Ministries, went to Pakatan Harapan politicians. In contrast, the foreign policy ministries of Defense, International Trade and Industry, and Foreign Affairs will be helmed by Barisan Nasional members. Twenty-two of the ministers have held previous government positions; just five are women.
Looking ahead, Anwar’s government faces multiple domestic challenges, including presenting a new budget, combating rising costs of living, and addressing shortages of key commodities like eggs. His cabinet ministers have already announced that they plan to take a 20 percent cut in their salaries “out of concern for problems faced by the public.” Anwar has also promised to fight corruption and has accused former prime minister Muhyiddin’s government of “serious procedural breaches” in spending. Time will tell whether Anwar’s coalition government can stay together long enough to steer Malaysia through an expected economic slowdown in 2023.
For more political, economic, and security analysis on the region, check out our blog series, The Latest on Southeast Asia. To hear the latest news on the region and hear from Southeast Asia experts, listen and subscribe to the Southeast Asia Radio podcast on any streaming platform.
Support from 112 seats is needed to secure a majority in parliament. Longtime opposition leader Anwar emerged victorious on November 24, becoming Malaysia’s 10th prime minister. Anwar’s unity government will comprise Pakatan Harapan, its longtime bête noire Barisan Nasional, and the East Malaysian coalitions of Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. The coalition parties are expected to sign a pact for political stability ahead of a confidence vote on December 19, the first day of the new parliament. Perikatan Nasional, consisting of Muhyiddin’s Bersatu alongside the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), declined to join the unity government and will act as the opposition bloc.
On December 2, Anwar unveiled his new cabinet, with a mix of new and familiar names. Most notably, he named himself finance minister. This is not unusual, given that former prime ministers Najib Razak and Mahathir Mohamad also served concurrently in the role during their terms. Anwar previously served as finance minister from 1991 to 1998, only leaving the post after being fired over a disagreement with Mahathir about how to handle the Asian Financial Crisis. Another move that raised eyebrows was the decision to appoint Barisan Nasional leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as one of two deputy prime ministers. This is Zahid’s second time in the role, after serving from 2015 to 2018, but he returns facing 47 unresolved charges of corruption and money laundering. Despite Barisan Nasional’s disappointing performance at the polls, Anwar appears to have given the role to Zahid as the price of UMNO’s support.
Anwar’s hand-picked cabinet is slimmer than his predecessor’s, with 28 ministers compared to 31 under former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The party breakdown reflects his government’s power-sharing arrangement—14 ministers are from Pakatan Harapan, 6 from Barisan Nasional, 5 from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and 1 from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. Ministries that handle domestic affairs, such as the Home, Transport, Agriculture and Food Security, Economic, and Education Ministries, went to Pakatan Harapan politicians. In contrast, the foreign policy ministries of Defense, International Trade and Industry, and Foreign Affairs will be helmed by Barisan Nasional members. Twenty-two of the ministers have held previous government positions; just five are women.
Looking ahead, Anwar’s government faces multiple domestic challenges, including presenting a new budget, combating rising costs of living, and addressing shortages of key commodities like eggs. His cabinet ministers have already announced that they plan to take a 20 percent cut in their salaries “out of concern for problems faced by the public.” Anwar has also promised to fight corruption and has accused former prime minister Muhyiddin’s government of “serious procedural breaches” in spending. Time will tell whether Anwar’s coalition government can stay together long enough to steer Malaysia through an expected economic slowdown in 2023.
For more political, economic, and security analysis on the region, check out our blog series, The Latest on Southeast Asia. To hear the latest news on the region and hear from Southeast Asia experts, listen and subscribe to the Southeast Asia Radio podcast on any streaming platform.