Allies at odds: Discontent brews in Johor over unequal treatment of unity government parties

KUALA LUMPUR – There is growing discontent among grassroots members of Malaysia’s federal ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) and its component, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), after their assistance in a recent Johor by-election win was not rewarded with state and local council seats in the southern state.

The Mahkota state by-election on Sept 28 was resoundingly won by Barisan Nasional (BN),

an alliance led by Malay nationalist party Umno and a member of the unity government helmed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. While Johor has long been a BN stronghold, its unity government partners PH and DAP contributed significantly to the 79 per cent of votes it secured in Mahkota by canvassing non-Malay support.