Malaysia's PM Anwar faces succession race as contenders eye next election

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's first term in Malaysia is far from over, but the political landscape is already buzzing with speculation about who will succeed him. Chatter about early elections is growing, with potential contenders positioning themselves for the next general election, which could occur well before the February 2028 deadline.

In the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, Terengganu Chief Minister Samsuri Mokhtar has become a prominent figure. Following his coalition's clean sweep of all 32 state seats in 2023, he was appointed PN chairman and later Parliamentary Opposition Leader. However, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who was replaced as opposition leader, is reportedly maneuvering to consolidate his own influence within the PN.

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Every prime minister that has taken power after an election was a coalition chief.

Meanwhile, Anwar's own administration faces internal challenges. He is experiencing pushback from key allies within the UMNO party and from leaders within his own Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. Adding to the complexity, Anwar's administration is seeking to implement a 10-year term limit for the prime ministership, which would mean Malaysia will need a new prime minister after the next five-year term concludes.

The path to the premiership in Malaysia's coalition-dependent system is not solely about who is next in line. Success hinges on being the most acceptable candidate to a broad spectrum of leaders and voters. Dr. Samsuri, a Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) vice-president, faces the dual challenge of consolidating his internal base and appealing beyond PAS's traditional Muslim strongholds, especially as even PAS leadership privately acknowledges the country may not be ready for an Islamist party to lead the government.

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Malaysia may not yet be ready for the Islamist party to lead the government despite already having the most MPs.