Politics · Malaysia Bureau
GPS, GRS backing for Madani government appears secure, analysts say
Political analysts believe Sarawak and Sabah's ruling coalitions are unlikely to withdraw support from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, citing substantial federal funding and progress on constitutional issues.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are expected to maintain their support for the federal government despite occasional political tensions, according to political observers monitoring the coalition's stability.
Analysts point to concrete incentives that have strengthened the relationship between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the two East Malaysian powerbrokers. The federal government has channelled significant allocations to both Sarawak and Sabah, reflecting Anwar's commitment to addressing the states' developmental needs and securing their continued backing.
Beyond financial arrangements, progress on contentious constitutional matters under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution—commonly referred to as MA63 issues—has bolstered confidence in the partnership. The administration's demonstrated willingness to engage on longstanding grievances regarding state autonomy and resource rights has provided the GPS and GRS with political wins to justify their coalition participation to their respective electorates.
The stability of East Malaysian support remains critical to the Madani government's parliamentary majority. While occasional friction between federal and state-level interests is inevitable in any coalition arrangement, the combination of fiscal benefits and policy progress appears sufficient to keep GPS and GRS aligned with Putrajaya for the foreseeable future.