Malaysia’s new government will face struggle for unity
Significance
The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition’s fall marks the first transfer of governing power since independence.
Impacts
- PH scrutiny of Chinese-led development projects begun under the Najib administration could lead to a cooling of Malaysia-China relations.
- Populist economic policies in the PH’s manifesto could result in increased public borrowing.
- The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) will likely not be able to enforce Islamic criminal punishments in states it controls.
- Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) will likely see more defections.