Next Malaysian general election

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Next Malaysian general election
Flag of Malaysia.svg
  2022 By 17 February 2028 (2028-02-17)Next 

All 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat
112 seats needed for a majority
  Anwar Ibrahim (2024-05-23).jpg Muhyiddin Yassin, 2020 (format 4to3 portrait).jpg Deputy Prime Minister Hamidi - 2017 (36294565072) (cropped).jpg
Leader Anwar Ibrahim Muhyiddin Yassin Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Party PKR BERSATU UMNO
Alliance Pakatan Harapan Perikatan Nasional Barisan Nasional
Last election81 seats74 seats30 seats
Current seats816830
Seats neededIncrease2.svg 31Increase2.svg 44Increase2.svg 82

  Abang Johari UNIMAS meeting.jpg CM Hajiji Noor in 2024 (cropped).jpg Mohd Shafie Apdal in 2023.jpg
Leader Abang Johari Hajiji Noor Shafie Apdal
Party PBB GAGASAN WARISAN
Alliance GPS GRS
Last election23 seats6 seats3 seats
Current seats2363
Seats neededSteady2.svg [a] Steady2.svg [b] Increase2.svg 109

Incumbent Prime Minister

Anwar Ibrahim
PH



General elections must be held in Malaysia by 17 February 2028. Redistribution and boundary changes for the constituencies are expected to take place by 2026, with the last taking place before the 2018 general election.

Contents

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, leader of Pakatan Harapan, currently leads a coalition government consisting of PH, BN, GPS, GRS, WARISAN and other minor parties. [1] Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) sit as the opposition. [2] [3]

The 2022 general elections saw PN make gains primarily in the northern peninsular states of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu in what was dubbed as the Green Wave. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] It resulted in a hung parliament for the first time in Malaysian electoral history. [10]

Electoral system

Elections in Malaysia are conducted at the federal and state levels. Federal elections elect members of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, while state elections in each of the 13 states elect members of their respective state legislative assembly. As Malaysia follows the Westminster system of government, the head of government (Prime Minister at the federal level and the Chief Ministers, the so-called Menteri Besar, at the state level) is the person who commands the confidence of the majority of members in the respective legislature – this is normally the leader of the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the legislature.

The Dewan Rakyat consists of 222 members, known as Members of Parliament (MPs), that are elected for five-year terms. Each MP is elected from a single-member constituency using the first-past-the-post voting system. If one party obtains a majority of seats, then that party is entitled to form the government, with its leader becoming the Prime Minister. In the event of a hung parliament, where no single party obtains the majority of seats, the government may still form through a coalition or a confidence and supply agreement with other parties. In practice, coalitions and alliances in Malaysia generally persist between elections, and member parties do not normally contest for the same seats.

Timeline

Dissolution of parliament

The 14th Parliament of Malaysia was dissolved on 10 October 2022, during a special televised address by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, following an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Abdullah, a day prior, whereby he provided consent for the dissolution. The election had to be held within 60 days or by 9 December. [11]

The Constitution of Malaysia requires that a general election be held in the fifth calendar year after the first sitting unless it is dissolved earlier by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong following a motion of no confidence, loss of supply or a request by the prime minister.

Dissolution of state legislatures

While any state may dissolve its legislature independently of Parliament, most of them had historically dissolved at around the same time as Parliament such that federal and state elections are held simultaneously. In accordance with Malaysian law, Parliament as well as the legislative assemblies of each state would automatically expire on the fifth anniversary of the first sitting of a term, unless dissolved prior to that date by the relevant heads of state on the advice of their respective heads of government. Elections must be held within sixty days of expiry or dissolution.

Dates of the legislature of each state would expire and their actual dissolution dates
Legislature

(and term number)

Term beganRefsTerm ends

(on or before)

Latest possible

election date

Refs
Flag of Sabah.svg Sabah (16th)9 October 2020 [12] 9 October 20258 December 2025
Flag of Malacca.svg Malacca (15th)27 December 2021 [13] 27 December 202625 February 2027
Flag of Sarawak.svg Sarawak (19th)14 February 2022 [14] 14 February 202715 April 2027
Flag of Johor.svg Johor (15th)21 April 2022 [15] 21 April 202720 June 2027
Flag of Perlis.svg Perlis (15th)19 December 2022 [16] 19 December 202717 February 2028
Flag of Perak.svg Perak (15th)19 December 2022 [17] 19 December 202717 February 2028
Flag of Pahang.svg Pahang (15th)29 December 2022 [18] 29 December 202727 February 2028
Flag of Penang (Malaysia).svg Penang (15th)29 August 2023 [19] 29 August 202828 October 2028
Flag of Kelantan.svg Kelantan (15th)5 September 2023 [20] 5 September 20284 November 2028
Flag of Selangor.svg Selangor (15th)19 September 2023 [21] 19 September 202818 November 2028
Flag of Terengganu.svg Terengganu (15th)24 September 2023 [22] 24 September 202823 November 2028
Flag of Kedah.svg Kedah (15th)25 September 2023 [23] 25 September 202824 November 2028
Flag of Negeri Sembilan.svg Negeri Sembilan (15th)26 September 2023 [24] 26 September 202825 November

2028

Opinion polls

Opinion polls for the next Malaysian general election have been conducted by various organizations to gauge public support for political parties and coalitions. Below is a summary of recent polls.

National polls

National opinion polls
PollsterFieldwork dateSample size PH PN BN GPS GRS OthersLeadRef
Merdeka Centre1–7 November 20241,20036%29%20%8%5%2%PH +7% [25]
YouGov 15–20 October 20241,50033%27%23%10%5%2%PH +6% [26]
ISEAS 1–10 October 20242,00034%29%21%9%5%2%PH +5% [27]
Ilham Centre1–5 October 20241,00033%31%22%7%5%2%PH +2% [28]
Vodus 10–15 September 20241,80036%27%23%8%4%2%PH +9% [29]

State-level polls

State-level opinion polls
StatePollsterFieldwork dateSample size PH PN BN GPS GRS OthersLeadRef
Selangor Merdeka Centre1–5 November 202480041%24%20%15%PH +17% [30]
Johor Ilham Centre10–15 October 202470036%29%24%11%PH +7% [31]
Sabah Vodus1–10 October 202460021%14%10%50%5%GRS +29% [32]

Notes

  1. GPS only contests seats in Sarawak, insufficient to form government in their own right
  2. GRS only contests seats in Sabah and Labuan, insufficient to form government in their own right

References

  1. "Parliament session on Dec 19, motion of confidence on PM to be tabled - PM Anwar". Bernama. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  2. "PN to stay as opposition bloc, to provide checks and balances to Anwar's unity govt". The Straits Times. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  3. "Syed Saddiq: Muda turns opposition as 'third force', withdraws from unity govt". Malay Mail. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  4. "Malaysia's 'Green Wave' Was a Long Time Coming". Fulcrum Singapore. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  5. "'Green wave' sweeps over voters". The Star. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. "Iman Research: PAS' 'green wave' long time coming, came from lack of Pakatan presence and winning over first-time voters". Malay Mail. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. "'Gelombang hijau' PAS akan berkembang dalam PRN, kata Hadi". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  8. "ULASAN Kejutan 'Gelombang Hijau' dalam PRU15". Malaysia Kini. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  9. "Bangkitnya 'gelombang hijau' di Malaysia". Benar News. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  10. Gahagan, Jeremy (20 November 2022). "Malaysia elects first ever hung parliament" . Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  11. Zahiid, Syed Jamal (10 October 2022). "PM Ismail Sabri dissolves Parliament to pave way for GE15". Malay Mail . Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  12. ASMIN, ASYIKIN (9 October 2020). "74 ADUN Sabah angkat sumpah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. Othman, Farah Suhaidah (27 December 2021). "DUN Melaka – 20 ahli DUN angkat sumpah" (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. "ADUN Sarawak angkat sumpah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. Hassim, Masuana (21 April 2022). "56 AHLI DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI (ADUN) JOHOR ANGKAT SUMPAH JAWATAN". Laman Web MKN (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  16. Sharif, Aizat (19 December 2022). "14 Adun PN angkat sumpah di Perlis [METROTV]". Harian Metro. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  17. abdulrahman (19 December 2022). "Sidang DUN Perak Ke-15 Bermula, 58 ADUN Angkat Sumpah - Malaysiaaktif" . Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. Yahya, Syahira (29 December 2022). "42 ADUN Pahang angkat sumpah". MalaysiaGazette. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. ROSLI, SYAJARATULHUDA MOHAMAD (29 August 2023). "40 ADUN Pulau Pinang angkat sumpah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  20. ABDULLAH, YATIMIN (5 September 2023). "45 ADUN Kelantan selesai angkat sumpah hari ini". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  21. Zain, Nizam (19 September 2023). "56 ADUN Selangor selesai angkat sumpah". MalaysiaGazette. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  22. KAMARUDDIN, KAMALIZA (24 September 2023). "Mohd. Nor dilantik Speaker DUN Terengganu baharu". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  23. HAMID, NURUL HIDAYAH (25 September 2023). "YDP Pas Langkawi angkat sumpah Speaker DUN Kedah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  24. ISA, BADRUL HAFIZAN MAT (26 September 2023). "ADUN di Negeri Sembilan angkat sumpah jawatan hari ini". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  25. "National Poll by Merdeka Centre". 8 November 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  26. "National Poll by YouGov". 21 October 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  27. "National Poll by ISEAS". 11 October 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  28. "National Poll by Ilham Centre". 6 October 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  29. "National Poll by Vodus". 16 September 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  30. "Selangor Poll by Merdeka Centre". 6 November 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  31. "Johor Poll by Ilham Centre". 16 October 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  32. "GE15 Election Poll Prediction". 11 October 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)