Now is not the right time for an election amid political uncertainty - Analyst

SHAH ALAM - The unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim faces significant challenges in maintaining its position if the 16th General Election (GE16) is held soon.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mohd Yusri Ibrahim said several factors contributed to this concern.

"In my opinion, now is not the right time. Holding an election now would be very risky, given the uncertainty surrounding political cooperation and the lack of guaranteed support from the Malay demographic.

"It would be wiser for the government to complete its current term and use the remaining time to strengthen its achievements. This period could be utilised to enhance public acceptance and build stronger support.

"Although the cooperation within Perikatan Nasional appears somewhat fragile, it is still not an ideal moment to hold an election," he told Sinar.

Yusri made the comment when asked about Anwar's recent statement expressing confidence in the Madani government's ability to secure victory if the election was to be held soon.

Explaining the possible reasons behind Anwar's optimism, Yusri pointed out three factors which were steady economic performance, rising commodity prices and civil service salary adjustments.

However, he cautioned that Malaysia's current political dynamics present numerous other challenges that could affect the unity government's chances in GE16.

"The most critical factor is the political coalition. So far, the parties forming the unity government have yet to make a clear decision on whether they will continue their cooperation in the next election.

"Political collaboration is crucial in fostering public confidence in the government that will be formed after the election.

"To gain public support and trust, the unity government, under the Malaysia Madani framework, must promptly confirm that their coalition will continue into GE16," he said.