Election Crisis In Malaysia

Malaysia does have a king, but his position is more ceremonial than functional as the Prime Minister is the “hands-on” leader of the country. In its recent election for the position, the Prime Minster’s position is in a virtual tie with neither candidate receiving the required majority vote. In a case like this, the King has the authority to appoint the Prime Minister. The King initially proposed that the two form a coalition government and work together, but that option was turned down when neither opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim nor former premier Muhyidden Yassin won the simple majority to form a government.

The King asked the Malaysian people to accept any decision he made about the government. Many factors play into the country’s leadership position: religion, race, and region, all highly contentious. Anwar’s progressive coalition is facing

Muhyddin’s bloc is Islamist with large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

What has ushered in this uncertainty in the country? For many years, the once-dominant Barisan and its leading party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) led the government, but the collapse of the coalition from infighting destroyed its ability to function well.

Muhyddin’s Islamist coalition would almost certainly try to usher in sharia law which is raising huge fears in Malaysia. Christian believers would face an uncertain future.

Let us pray fervently for:

  • God to use all of these factors and uncertainties to bring about His best choice of a prime minister for the people of Malaysia (The Bible, Proverbs 21:1)
  • Christian Believers to bond together in their efforts to be good examples of Christian disciples to their Muslim neighbors (The Bible, Matthew 5:16).