Malaysia PM faces electoral setback as allies fall in Sabah state polls

30/11/2025 16:42

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's allies were trounced in a regional election, results showed on Sunday, a grim first electoral test for the leader after three years in office.



Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition won just one of the 20 seats it contested in Sabah, down from the seven it held previously in the eastern state on Borneo island.



"The Sabah election outcome shows Anwar's coalition lost badly," said Lee Kuok Tiung, an associate professor and political analyst at Universiti Malaysia.

Saturday's election was the first of a series of regional polls that will test Anwar's support ahead of national elections due by early 2028 in the Southeast Asian nation.



Despite PH's setback, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah - a coalition of state-based parties aligned with Anwar's ruling bloc - retained control of Sabah, one of Malaysia's largest and poorest states. GRS faced pressure over its ties to Anwar's coalition as sentiment grows for greater state autonomy.



Anwar congratulated GRS leader Hajiji Noor on his reappointment as Sabah chief minister, saying the federal government "fully respects the strong and clear message" of the state's voters.