The Negeri Sembilan spat has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar’s coalition government
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenJoseph SipalanPublished: 1:39pm, 27 Apr 2026The ruling administration of Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state is at the brink of collapse after a key ally withdrew support on Monday in a spat that has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government.Anwar has been facing growing pushback from allies and critics alike in recent months, ahead of national polls due in less than two years.Parties across the aisle are doubling down on contentious issues to bolster support from their respective vote bases in multiracial Malaysia, unravelling the relative political stability under his ruling alliance since he took office in 2022.
“All 14 Umno-BN Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen, hereby, unanimously, declare our loss of confidence in the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan and withdraw our support for the state government,” state Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias told a live news conference, using the Malay term for chief minister.
