New Malaysia opposition party may hit UMNO support

Significance

To further this aim, Mahathir is establishing a new political party. This will add to the plethora of Malaysian opposition voices, which were joined recently by a second opposition coalition, and could become a platform for former ministers to push against the government.

Impacts

• UMNO will use the period of opposition negotiation to emphasise the opposition's disunity.
• The new Saksama coalition may strengthen East Malaysian political identity and autonomy calls.
• Greater East Malaysian autonomy could affect extractive and natural resource sector royalties.