Anwar Ibrahim Becomes PM of Malaysia: Promises To Return Autonomy to Sabah & Sarawak

  Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the Pact of Hope (PH) managed to become the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaysia after his coalition won the most number of seats in parliament, 82 out of 222. In the November 19th 2022 elections, PH won 82 seats, PN 74, BN 30, GPS 23, GRS 6 and the rest were won by smaller parties and independents. 

      Although short of a simple majority, on the advise of the King, Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, Anwar Ibrahim secured an alliamce with the Sarawak Parties Coalition (GPS) and Sabah People's Coalition (GRS), enabling him to garner enough seats to become the Prime Minister. The National Front (BN) though lost badly in the election was also included in Anwar Ibrahim's new government.  

      Earlier, the Islamist coalition of the National Alliance (PN) had intended to form the government by aligning with GPS and GRS. However, both GPS and GRS made a u-turn since the King had preferred a candidate from the coalition with the most number of seats to become the Prime Minister.

       The new Prime Minister has promised to return Sabah amd Sarawak's autonomy that were whittled away durimg 55 years of BN rule. Though BN was finally brought down in 2018, the then new PH government's rule was short-lived when the interim Prime Minister from PH, Dr.Mahathir Mohamad indirectly made way for his party Bersatu to leave PH and join forces with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)  to form a new government.

         Anwar Ibrahim has been waiting to become Prime Minister since he left BN in 1998. As a result he was charged under suspicious accusations of sodomy under a colonial-era law and had to spend years in prison. 

       Chances for Sabah and Sarawak to regain their rights look bright now that the new PM has directed all rights of Sabah and Sarawak be returned without the need to form committees or hold lengthy discussions. As a result, several jurisdictions have been returned including the right to oil and gas products. At the time of this writing, the return of health and education  to the governments of Sabah amd Sarawak are in the works.

         The toughest measures would probably be the reinstatement of Article 161C and Article 161D of the Federal Constitution which guarantee the secular character of Sabah and Sarawak. Any attempt to reinstate these provisions might face tough opposition from the Islamist-rooted PN and BN which is also currently allied to Anwar Ibrahim. After all the repeal of the said articles were made by BN in 1976. 

        The following months will be interesting to watch as we would see how far Anwar Ibrahim would go to appease GPS and GRS who together have given him enough numbers to hecome PM.