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Growing political pressure on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling alliance should have eased after it retained two seats at by-elections in Johor on Saturday.
But while talk of toppling his government by the opposition has quietened down after peaking following wide gains at last month’s polls to elect six state governments, criticism over perceived interference in graft cases has kept noise levels high.
After five years of repeatedly delayed hearings for Umno president Zahid Hamidi ended last week when 47 charges against him were suddenly dropped, his predecessor Najib Razak was also let off the hook after prosecutors failed to file a petition of appeal against the former premier’s acquittal of a charge of tampering with a 1MDB audit.
A warm welcome for Deputy Premier Zahid at the national congress of the Democratic Action Party – the largest outfit in Datuk Seri Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition – has also left many questioning the government’s stated zero-tolerance stance towards corruption.
This has led to youth-based Muda party withdrawing from the so-called unity government, depriving Mr Anwar of a two-thirds supermajority in Parliament. Muda, along with Parti Sosialis Malaysia, are threatening to take to the streets if charges against Datuk Seri Zahid are not restored. The opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) is also planning a protest this Saturday.
Follow ST’s coverage as we continue to bring you the latest developments and thank you for reading The Straits Times.
Momentum to oust Anwar stalls after Johor vote, but support still shifting to opposition
Despite the Johor by-election results, growing support for the opposition is a national trend.
PM Anwar’s coalition retains both seats in Johor by-elections
The Pakatan Harapan coalition has won both Simpang Jeram state seat and Pulai parliament seat.
Malaysian DPM Zahid welcomed at former foe’s annual congress after controversial court decision
Analysts had mixed views on how the alliance would work out for the Democratic Action Party.
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and wife to visit Singapore
Datuk Seri Anwar will be in Singapore to speak at an international summit.
Malaysian hawker under fire for selling claypot chicken rice cooked with rice wine, no halal cert
The authorities said they have never issued the stall’s operator any halal certification.
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