SHAH ALAM – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) struggle to meet reform expectations, coupled with growing dissatisfaction among its traditional supporters and internal party divisions, could make it increasingly difficult for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to regain political ground ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16).
Political analysts said frustration among reform-minded and liberal voters, particularly over the slow pace of promised changes and persistent corruption concerns, had eroded confidence in the coalition.
Political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun said dissatisfaction among PH’s core supporters had become increasingly apparent, particularly among those who had backed the coalition on the promise of institutional and political reforms.
He said many were growing frustrated with the slow progress of reforms, while concerns over corruption remained, including cases involving individuals close to Anwar.
“There is also dissatisfaction among PH's core supporters, particularly those who are reform-minded and liberal.
“They feel that the pace of reforms has been too slow and that corruption remains an issue, including cases involving individuals close to Anwar Ibrahim,” he told Sinar Daily.
Beyond its reform-minded supporters, Oh said PH was also facing discontent among Chinese voters, particularly over DAP's performance on issues such as equal rights, recognition and the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
He added that PKR was grappling with its own internal challenges, with several senior leaders, including Members of Parliament, leaving the party.
According to Oh, the departures pointed to deeper leadership problems within PKR under Anwar - who is both PH chairman and PKR president, particularly over the party's ability to accommodate potential successors.
“For PKR, we have seen senior leaders leaving the party one after another, including MPs. This reflects the serious internal challenges facing PKR, particularly under Anwar Ibrahim's leadership, as he does not seem to tolerate potential successors,” he added.
Oh said the challenges extended beyond maintaining cohesion among coalition partners, arguing that Anwar had yet to consolidate unity within his own party.
“He has not even managed to unite his own party, let alone the entire coalition,” he said.
With roughly a year remaining before GE16, Oh questioned whether Anwar had sufficient time to reverse the political trend, citing mounting public dissatisfaction, leadership challenges and the growing appeal of the Malay unity narrative promoted by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali offered a more measured assessment, saying Anwar remained in a position to influence the political landscape despite BN's consecutive victories in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.
He said the Prime Minister still wielded considerable political power and influence to shift voter sentiment, although the extent to which he could turn the tide remained uncertain.
“The ambiguity surrounding the cooperation between Pas and Umno, particularly regarding the Pas-dominated 'SG4' states further complicates the landscape. As Prime Minister, Anwar holds the power and influence to shift the political tide as he sees fit,” he said.
Mazlan also cautioned against assuming that BN's electoral momentum in the three southern states would automatically translate into similar gains elsewhere, particularly in Selangor and the Federal Territories, which have different demographic compositions.
He attributed part of the dissatisfaction reflected in Melaka's electoral outcome to certain Madani government policies, particularly those affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
He said some local business owners felt they had not benefited from the substantial investment figures announced by the government, highlighting a disconnect between headline economic announcements and the experiences of businesses on the ground.
Taken together, the analysts' assessments point to a series of challenges confronting PH as it approaches GE16 — from fulfilling reform expectations and addressing voter grievances to managing internal party dynamics and preserving the coalition's support base.
For Anwar, the challenge is no longer simply about defending the government's record. It is also about convincing voters who once placed their hopes in PH that the coalition can still deliver on the changes it promised.
With the next general election drawing closer, the government's ability to address these concerns and rebuild public confidence could prove crucial in determining whether PH can regain lost ground or face a more difficult electoral battle.