As Malaysia continues to be plagued by internecine power struggles and political instability, @NileBowie examines the viability and political motives of a hybrid government led by Anwar Ibrahim with the support of both Pakatan Harapan and a recalcitrant faction from UMNO. https://twitter.com/nilebowie/status/1316261985529458689

"Amid frenzied speculation and unsubstantiated claims of game-changing political defections, Malaysia may or may not be on the cusp of a change of government."

"After claiming to command support from a “solid and convincing majority” of lawmakers in Parliament at a September 23 press briefing without furnishing evidence or naming those allegedly supporting his power grab, (cont'd below)

the monarchal meeting was Anwar’s opportunity to substantiate his leadership challenge and seek royal assent to form a new government."

"Though there were more questions raised than answers supplied as the day’s events unfolded, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president declined to furnish new details about his bid to take over Putrajaya, as he had pledged he would after meeting the king."

"Should Anwar’s political maneuvering fail to topple the government, analysts say his credibility will be badly tarnished, perhaps to the point that his allies in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition bloc (cont'd below)

opt to throw their numbers behind a different prime ministerial candidate when the country’s next general election is held."

“The palace’s statement about a name list not being provided does undermine Anwar’s claim to some extent,” said Piya Raj Sukhani, a political analyst at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“The key focus is now on UMNO’s position and what will be affirmed to the king when party leaders are summoned.”

"Observers speculate that Anwar is bidding to draw support from a faction of UMNO known to be disgruntled with Muhyiddin’s leadership, namely those loyal to UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and criminally convicted former prime minister Najib Razak."

"Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Anwar dismissed speculation that he would compromise with individuals currently facing criminal convictions to secure a parliamentary majority, (cont'd below)

but qualified the remark by asserting that he would not pursue a “political vendetta” against anyone if he formed a new “inclusive government.”"

"At two press conferences on his leadership challenge, Anwar has repeated that the majority of lawmakers backing him were “Malay and Muslim”, (cont'd below)

and committed himself to uphold the constitutionally-ascribed privileges and special position of ethnic Malays and bumiputra, or “sons of the soil.”"

"Many are still skeptical of Anwar’s claims given that no major party has offered a clear declaration of support while several UMNO members have publicly denied doing so."

"But the prospect of PH embracing graft-tainted individuals and forming a government through crossovers has raised ethical concerns in some quarters."

"A senior PKR source who spoke to Asia Times on condition of anonymity said partnering with UMNO members from Zahid and Najib’s faction (cont'd below)

would not inhibit reforms and that such an alliance would allow Anwar to prove his reformist mettle after years of setbacks that have denied him the premiership."

"According to the source, Najib and Zahid would not personally be among those who crossover if Anwar’s maneuver is successful, though individual lawmakers who belong to their faction (cont'd below)

are thought to be among those now backing the opposition leader: “It will be those with no outstanding criminal cases that will be supporting.”"

"The PKR source said that if a “unity government based on MP support” was formed, lawmakers from UMNO and BN, based on their prior experience as the opposition, (cont'd below)

would support reforms to curtail abuses of power, improve parliamentary procedures and refashion the country’s political ethos “from a zero-sum game to a proper democracy.”"

"Some analysts and observers believe the genuine motivation behind the UMNO faction’s cooperation with PKR is not to enable Anwar to take the premiership, but rather to coax Muhyiddin into calling a snap election, (cont'd below)

where BN would contest against PN in ethnic Malay constituencies and attempt to form the next government independently."

"But in seeking a reversal of political fortunes, analysts say Anwar runs the risk of walking into the same dependency trap vis-à-vis UMNO that Muhyiddin is stuck."

"Moreover, it isn’t immediately clear how such an ideologically disparate grouping will result in more effective government, as it is more likely to be seen as an alliance of desperados."

“The road of Anwar’s ascendancy still remains long-winded and uncertain. His path to power is contingent on several fluid steps and may subject the character of reform politics to become vulnerable and gradually morph into the politics of appeasement instead.”