Malaysian PM Anwar faces critical party congresses after election losses

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is navigating a high-stakes weekend as his key coalition partners, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP), hold crucial party congresses. These meetings come shortly after the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition suffered significant defeats in recent state elections, placing renewed focus on the coalition's strategy ahead of the next general election due by February 2028.

Both PKR and DAP are confronting difficult questions following their electoral disappointments. In Sabah last November, PH won only one of 22 seats contested. More recently, the coalition was routed in Johor and Negeri Sembilan by a new alliance of Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, which gained strong support from the Malay-Muslim majority. These outcomes have put pressure on the PH heavyweights to regroup and redefine their political agenda.

For PKR, the national congress in Melaka is particularly significant due to fresh questions surrounding its leadership. Nurul Izzah Anwar, the party's deputy president and Anwar's daughter, recently offered to resign from her position, citing a need for further studies. However, party sources suggest deeper disagreements on political direction may be the cause. Her potential departure leaves PKR facing a leadership vacuum at a critical juncture as it seeks to regain voter support.

The DAP's congress on Sunday in Putrajaya is arguably more consequential for Anwar's government. Over 4,000 delegates will vote on whether the party should remain in the federal unity government. The DAP, a major component of the PH coalition, holds five full ministerial positions. Their decision could have significant ramifications for the stability of Anwar's administration, especially given the opposition bloc's recent electoral successes.