Malaysia Leader Up Against Friends and Foes in Sabah Election
- PM Muhyiddin’s own allies may pressure him for greater role
- Sabah victory for ruling pact could pave way for snap election
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
Photographer: Joshua Paul/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Malaysia’s Sabah state election is shaping up to be a messy battleground as Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin faces the opposition while also dealing with pressure from his own allies.
Nearly a million Malaysians in Sabah will vote for their state government on Saturday, days after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim made a bid for the premiership. While a win is crucial for Muhyiddin to fend off Anwar’s claim and may hasten a snap election, the nature of the victory is just as key.