Malaysian opposition fracture may be unavoidable

Subject

Generational change and its implications for Malaysia's opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Significance

The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition has lost a generation of experienced leaders. Nik Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and long-time chief minister of Kelantan, died on February 12; Anwar Ibrahim, PR leader and president of the People's Justice Party (PKR), was imprisoned on sodomy charges on February 10; and veteran Democratic Action Party (DAP) politician Karpal Singh died in a car accident in April 2014. Protests in support of Anwar demonstrate his supporters' continuing ability to mobilise, but they are overshadowed by substantial disagreements and infighting affecting the PR's three member parties.

Impacts

• Opposition disarray will be politically beneficial to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
• However, closer PAS-UMNO ties will be difficult to accept for non-Malay parties in the Barisan Nasional.
• UMNO will work more closely with the PAS on Islamic law issues.