Politics 101 teaches us that when a government has a super-majority in parliament, it will most likely be a powerful one, being able to push through its policy programs with ease.

However, the case in Malaysia is very different. Anwar Ibrahim claims to have a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat or lower house, and can even pass constitutional changes if necessary. However, Anwar as prime minister today looks weak, where cabinet ministers feel the need to make statements that Anwar should run his full term, in an attempt to prop him up.

Anwar became prime minister through the events that unfolded after the last general election in November 2022. Rather than obtaining a majority of seats that could enable the formation of a government in his own right, Anwar had to cobble together a coalition based upon promises and commitments made to other political party leaders, primarily UMNO, and GPS from Sarawak. The former Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, or King clearly favoured Anwar, rejecting the Perikatan Nasional claim to have a majority of supporting members elect.

This is why the proclaimed ‘unity government’ was also called the ‘Kerajaan Di-Raja” or Royal-government for a period of time. Clearly, Anwar didn’t have any peoples’ mandate to govern. Supporters of Anwar, during the early times of his administration often said ‘Anwar shouldn’t be criticised, because he was appointed by the king’.

This........

© Eurasia Review