Malaysia politics

For years, the caretaker chief minister of Kedah state and his party have whipped up Malay grievances that threaten to undermine the country's ethnic and social cohesion.

The six state polls, especially those in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, shape as a crucial political test for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan coalition.

The decision comes amid a rise in racial and religious online rhetoric as the country moves toward important state elections.

In his attempts to mollify Malay nationalists and Islamic conservatives, Anwar risks alienating his liberal and multi-ethnic support base.

The rare intervention by Sultan Ibrahim follows a report of a plot by disgruntled MPs to abandon Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's unity government.

The Federal Court rejected Prime Minister Najib Razak's request, with a judge describing him as "the author of his own misfortunes."

Having finally scaled the pinnacle of his country's politics, will political compromises now undermine Anwar's dream of a genuinely democratic Malaysia?

The case is likely to raise the political temperature ahead of a string of important state elections later this year.

The High Court ruling would appear to undermine the claim of the former leader's supporters that the cases against him are politically motivated.

Anwar “made himself ‘a bridge’ between different groups of people and ideas… it comes with the risk of being hated by all.”

Anwar Ibrahim has secured the support of a healthy majority, but there are no ironclad guarantees over the longer term.

The 28-member cabinet, which included members of four coalitions and an independent MP, was sworn in on Saturday.