James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Anwar faces a dilemma in balancing these competing interests.
“Anwar lost the Malay vote (to Perikatan Nasional) in Peninsular Malaysia, so he needs to claw it back by presenting himself as a (Malay-Muslim) champion,” Chin told FMT.
“Umno is leading the unity government’s charge in the Malay areas, so he cannot say things like he supports religious freedom because this will affect Malay support in the peninsula.
“So, the best policy for him now is to remain quiet and not talk too much about these issues.”
He was commenting on remarks by Sabah activist Johan Ariffin Samad, who warned that the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance could struggle in East Malaysia if a snap election is called due to rising discontent over the federal government’s handling of religious affairs.
Johan said many East Malaysians see the government’s role in religion as overreach, contradicting Sabah’s 20-point agreement, which originally excluded Islamic provisions.
Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said it was crucial that Anwar and PH-BN focus on religious freedom and local rights due to Sabah and Sarawak’s unique cultural and religious landscapes.
“Addressing these issues can help build trust and show that the federal government respects and values their distinct identities,” he said.
However, he said, this alone would be insufficient, as economic development, infrastructure, and local grievances must also be addressed.
Bilcher urged PH-BN to adjust its approach early, as East Malaysia’s growing identity and push for self-determination could lead to more regional-focused politics.
“For the country’s unity, it means that national coalitions will need to be more inclusive and responsive to regional demands to maintain cohesion,” he said.
Chin echoed this view and pointed to a growing grassroots movement in Sabah pushing a “vote local” campaign, similar to Sarawak’s so-called “Vote Gabungan Parti Sarawak” strategy.
“One of the consequences is that if the momentum gets off the ground, that everyone says vote for Sabah-based parties, then PH parties in the state government will be in trouble because DAP and PKR are national parties,” he said.