Malaysian politics heads for reset as Malay nationalism surge threatens reform experiment

Since becoming prime minister in 2022, Anwar has struggled to win over support from Malaysia’s Malay-Muslim majority

The common thread between the two state contests in the peninsula was a hard tilt towards Malay dominance in the political structure.

“The demand for a Malay nationalist coalition has never been bigger, especially after having PH and DAP in power,” said Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri, a political-science associate professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia.