JOHOR BAHRU (May 17): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday that he is considering calling a snap election, as tensions escalate among parties in the coalition government.

Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said he would convene a meeting with PH leaders in due course to discuss the matter, though he did not specify when the meeting would take place.

“Not only at the state level, but we are seriously considering that if this approach continues to strain and fracture relations within the government, then we may have to consider holding a general election nationwide,” he said at the PH Convention 2026.

He said the decision to dissolve Parliament lies with the prime minister, but added that he would take into account the views of PH’s leadership before making any decision.

Anwar currently leads a multi-party unity government comprising PH, Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah(GRS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak(GPS).

Tensions within the coalition have become increasingly apparent after Johor BN decided to contest independently in the upcoming state election.

Political turmoil has also emerged in Negeri Sembilan after all Umno assemblymen — the lynchpin party of BN — withdrew their support for Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun over his handling of a crisis involving the state monarchy.

On Sunday, Anwar said he was not surprised by Johor BN’s decision to go it alone and stressed that PH would respond firmly by contesting more seats in upcoming state elections.

He noted that seat negotiations in Johor and Negeri Sembilan were “almost settled”, with PH preparing to contest BN across constituencies.

Nevertheless, he said relations between the top leadership of PH and BN remain good and harmonious at the federal level, and that the door remains open for further negotiations.

The current term of the Malaysian government is due to end in December 2027, with a general election required to be held by February 2028.

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