How a coalition of rivals reshaped the landscape of Malaysian national politics

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 2015, Pakatan Harapan emerged as a centrist force to challenge a six-decade political monopoly. Its journey from a grassroots opposition movement to the architect of a national unity government reveals the volatile, shifting nature of alliances in a landscape defined by factionalism and pragmatism.

Pakatan Harapan, or the Alliance of Hope, was established in 2015 as the successor to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Its formation followed the collapse of its predecessor due to internal friction regarding the application of sharia law. By 2018, the coalition achieved a historic milestone by ending the sixty-year governance of the Barisan Nasional. This victory was short-lived, however, as the 2020 political crisis triggered the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the subsequent withdrawal of his party, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, alongside several defectors from the People's Justice Party.

The coalition's tenure has been marked by both ambitious reform agendas and significant internal strain. Academic analysis from 2020 noted that while the government pursued anti-corruption measures and sought to repeal restrictive legislation, it struggled with persistent issues like racial inequality, education reform, and the political marginalization of indigenous groups. These challenges were often compounded by intense factional infighting, which critics argue distracted the administration from addressing structural concerns, particularly regarding the autonomy of the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Following the 2022 general election, which resulted in a hung parliament, the coalition pivoted to a new strategy of cooperation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Harapan formed a grand national unity government alongside former rivals, including Barisan Nasional. This pragmatic shift reflects the coalition's evolution from a purely oppositional entity into a central pillar of Malaysia's current governing structure, maintaining influence across several state assemblies while navigating the complexities of multi-party governance in a deeply divided political environment.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The fragile architecture of Malaysia's shifting political alliances
• How one coalition held Malaysian power for over six decades
• How a Malaysian political party transformed through a decade of rebranding and internal conflict
• The 2018 Malaysian election ended six decades of uninterrupted rule
• How Malaysia's Oldest Political Party Shaped a Nation Through Affirmative Action and Identity
• The Pallas's cat is a master of camouflage in the world's harshest mountain climates.
• Is the name of Malaysia's largest peninsular state derived from an ancient word for tin?
• The most common saturated fat on Earth is in your body and your soap
• Did this dinosaur use its massive, domed skull to head-butt rivals or kickbox?
• Is the elusive Pampas cat one species or a complex of five distinct cats?
• The popular houseplant known as a money tree is likely a case of mistaken identity.
• The world's most popular banana is facing a silent, unstoppable fungal extinction event.

More in Organisms · More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics