Commentary: With PH’s Negeri Sembilan defeat, PM Anwar is running out of states and time

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's political standing has been severely undermined following his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition's decisive loss in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly elections. The coalition, which had governed the state for eight years, fell from 17 seats to just 11, ceding its majority to the rival Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance.

The defeat is particularly stinging as it occurred on the same night Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, whose party leads BN, celebrated alongside PN leaders. This alliance, formed to contest the state polls, saw BN and PN secure 25 out of 36 seats. Prominent PH figures, including former chief minister Aminuddin Harun and Transport Minister Anthony Loke, lost their constituencies.

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There is a particular cruelty in watching your deputy prime minister celebrate your misery.

This Negeri Sembilan outcome is the third significant electoral blow to Anwar's coalition in recent months. It follows similar defeats in Sabah in November 2025 and Johor in July, demonstrating a concerning pattern for the Prime Minister. These successive losses have reshaped Malaysia's political map and intensified speculation about the timing of the next general election, which is not due until early 2028.

The results raise critical questions about the cohesion of Anwar's federal "Unity Government," which includes parties that are now openly competing against each other at the state level. The article suggests that the federal government's survival may be jeopardized if these internal conflicts persist, signaling a period of heightened political uncertainty in Malaysia.

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Can the federal government survive when its coalition partners are openly fighting each other in the states?