Pakatan Harapan (PH; stylised as HARAPAN; English: Alliance of Hope) is a Malaysianpolitical coalition consisting of centre-left political parties which was formed in 2015 to succeed the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. It has led a grand coalition government since November 2022, having previously led a single-coalition government from May 2018 to February 2020.
Pakatan Harapan is a direct successor to the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition that consisted of the People's Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Disagreements and conflict between PAS and DAP mainly regarding the implementation of sharia law resulted in the predecessor coalition's break-up in June 2015,[3][4] and it was replaced by a new coalition in September 2015 formed by the remnants of Pakatan Rakyat and a new PAS splinter party, the National Trust Party.[5][6]
On 12 November 2016, a United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) splinter party, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), founded and led by former Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, confirmed that the party was committed to joining Pakatan Harapan.[7][8] It succeeded in forming an electoral pact with the coalition in December before finally becoming a member in March the next year.[9][10]
Rise to power
The coalition's presidential council was confirmed in preparation for the coalition's registration. Mahathir was made the coalition's chairman and Wan Azizah Wan Ismail president, with then-imprisoned opposition leader and Wan Azizah's husband Anwar de facto leader. The logo was initially planned to be used by all participating candidates for the 2018 general election,[11] but was rejected by Registrar of Societies and cited as a reason as to why the coalition could not be registered,[12] while the Home Affairs Ministry later cited "issues" related to DAP and BERSATU after a new logo was submitted.[13] The coalition was not registered in time for the general election and in pursuance of its plan to contest under a common logo, it was announced that the component parties would use the logo of PKR on the ballots instead, except in Sabah and Sarawak, where the local party chapters opted to use their respective logos.[14][15] The coalition secured an electoral pact with the Sabah-based Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) before the election, with party president Shafie Apdal promising members it would be represented in the federal cabinet if the coalition came to power.[16]
In the 2018 election held on 9 May, Pakatan Harapan managed to win a simple majority of seats in the Dewan Rakyat, dislodging Barisan as the ruling coalition and ending its 60-year long stint in government. Following the coalition's victory, the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation announced their exit from Barisan and that they would seek to form a state government in Sabah with WARISAN and Pakatan Harapan.[17]
Two days after a court date had been set for a hearing on the issue of the coalition's non-registration lodged against the Registrar, it was announced that Pakatan's registration had been officially approved on 17 May, eight days after its victory in the election.[18]
In a 2020 article published in the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute journal of Southeast Asian Affairs, academic Ross Tapsell wrote of the coalition's efforts to ensure an independent trial for former prime minister Najib's corruption charges, the establishment of an independent anti-corruption commission, and the repealing of anti-fake news legislation, but also of the lack of action regarding decentralisation in relation to the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak, education reform, issues relating to the country's indigenous peoples (Orang Asli), racial inequality and political patronage, commenting that the Pakatan government was distracted by factional infighting.[19]
Mahathir unexpectedly resigned as prime minister on 24 February 2020. His party, controlling 26 members of parliament, withdrew from the coalition in support of his decision, along with 11 members of parliament from the People's Justice Party led by Anwar's deputy, Azmin Ali. The announcement was made amid speculation that Mahathir intended to form a new governing coalition that would've excluded Anwar, fueled in part by questions raised by the latter's supporters over his status as Mahathir's designated successor, which CNN reported as part of the pair's longstanding rivalry.[2][20] Despite this, Anwar believed that Mahathir was not member to any plans to exclude him from power. The political crisis sparked by Mahathir's resignation culminated in the coalition government's collapse as it no longer had a majority in parliament. Eventually, a new rival coalition led by Mahathir's deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, consisting of BERSATU and PAS named Perikatan Nasional, formed a new government with the support of Barisan.
The coalition lost its control over the states of Johor, Malacca, Perak and Kedah while a number of PKR, DAP and AMANAH representatives in those state assemblies left their parties and expressed support for the incoming state governments led by Perikatan.[21][22][23]
Return to power
In the 2022 Malaysian general election, Pakatan won most of its seats in the Dewan Rakyat in the states of Selangor, Johor, Penang, Perak, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan, while losing to Perikatan Nasional candidates in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis by large margins. It won the largest number of seats with 82, but fell short of the 112 needed for a simple majority. It formed a grand coalition with Barisan Nasional, two other coalitions, four parties, and independents following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's counsel that a unity government should be formed as a result of the hung parliament. While an offer was extended to Perikatan, it chose to sit as the official opposition. This arrangement was replicated on the state-level, with Pakatan participating in the government of seven states while providing confidence and supply in Johor.
While the Pakatan Harapan coalition is not a member of any political internationals or confederations, some of its component parties are. The Democratic Action Party is a founding member of the Progressive Alliance. The People's Justice Party was listed as an observer member of the Liberal International but has since been de-listed after its leader Anwar Ibrahim publicly denied that the party was member to any political international.
Pakatan Harapan also forms the state governments of Pahang, Perak, Melaka and Johor in coalition with Barisan Nasional, and the state government of Sabah in coalition with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, following the formation of the federal unity government (Kerajaan Perpaduan) in the aftermath of the 15th general election of November 2022.
^Julia Chan (6 April 2018). "Sabah, Sarawak Pakatan parties won't use common logo". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018. This was a big decision for us, to be able to exercise our autonomy and decide for ourselves. We chose to use our own respective party flags. So, PKR, DAP and Amanah flags will be used here.
^Rizalman Hamim; Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof (6 April 2018). "Pakatan to use PKR logo in GE14". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
