Next Malaysian general election

Next Malaysian general election
On or before February 2028 (2028-02)
All 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat
112 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Anwar Ibrahim Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Party PKR PAS UMNO
Alliance Pakatan Harapan Perikatan Nasional Barisan Nasional
Leader's seat Tambun Kemaman Bagan Datuk
Last election 81 seats 74 seats 30 seats
Current seats 76 49 30
Seats needed Increase 36 Increase 63 Increase 82
 
Leader Muhyiddin Yassin Abang Johari Hajiji Noor
Party BERSATU PBB GAGASAN
Alliance Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat Gabungan Parti Sarawak Gabungan Rakyat Sabah
Leader's seat Pagoh N/A N/A
Last election 35 seats 23 seats 6 seats
Current seats 19 23 7
Seats needed Increase 93 Steady[a] Steady[b]
 
Leader Shafie Apdal Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz Rafizi Ramli
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Party WARISAN MUDA BERSAMA
Alliance Blok Progresif
(Electoral pact with PSM and ASLI)
Leader's seat Semporna Will be contesting in parliament Pandan
Setiawangsa
Last election 3 seats 1 seat Not contested
Current seats 3 1 0
Seats needed Increase 109 Increase 111 Increase 112
Incumbent Prime Minister

Anwar Ibrahim
PH


The next general election in Malaysia is scheduled to be held on or before February 2028. It will determine the composition of the Dewan Rakyat, which determines the government of Malaysia. Redistribution and boundary changes for the constituencies are expected to take place by 2026, with the last taking place before the 2018 general election.[1]

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, leader of Pakatan Harapan (PH), currently leads a coalition government consisting of PH, BN, GPS, GRS, WARISAN and other minor parties.[2] Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) sit as the opposition.[3][4]

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.[5][6][7][8][9][10] It resulted in a hung parliament for the first time in Malaysian electoral history.[11]

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.

Political parties and candidates

The party commanding a majority support in the Dewan Rakyat is called upon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to form a government and present its nominee as Prime Minister of Malaysia, whereas the largest party in the opposition bench nominates a candidate for Leader of the Opposition.

Main parties

The incumbent ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition had previously won the 2018 election prior to collapsing in the aftermath of the 2020 political crisis. Following the 2022 election that resulted in the country's first hung parliament, the multiracial and reformist coalition formed a negotiated unity government under the leadership of longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.[12][13] Perikatan Nasional (PN) acts as the main opposition at the federal level following its loss in 2022 and the leadership's refusal to participate in the unity arrangement. The far-right former ruling coalition was formed amid the 2020 crisis which led to the formation of a PN-led government under Muhyiddin Yassin.[12] Barisan Nasional (BN), the country's former ruling coalition of 61 years, continues to retain substantial support and kingmaker capacity. The coalition had undergone a pragmatic shift in the aftermath of the last election, participating in the unity government and allying itself with PH, its longtime historical rival, as a junior coalition partner. The two coalitions also planned an electoral pact for the upcoming election, intending to avoid seat overlaps while uniting their election machineries with the goal of maintaining the pre-election status quo.[14][15] Two allied and component parties of Pakatan Harapan in the previous election has ended their cooperation with PH for various reasons. MUDA defected into opposition in 2023, citing No Further Action decision on Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi's corruption scandal as trigger, eventually forming Blok Progresif with left wing parties such as Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).[16][17] while UPKO quit before the 2025 Sabah election and decided to join GRS later, citing disagreement with federal government's reaction on court ruling on 40% oil revenue sharing promised to Sabah.[18][19]

Further rupture of ties were seen in first half of 2026, both in government and opposition. On the government side, two Barisan Nasional state chapters in Negeri Sembilan and Johor triggered uncertainties of PH and BN cooperation. 14 state assemblymen of BN in Negeri Sembilan, citing mistrust with Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun's response on the royal affair in the state, retracted their support for state government in April 2026.[20] BN Johor, who never formed a Unity Government pact with PH Johor, decided in May 2026 to continue contesting alone in 2026 Johor state election.[21] As result, these two states faced earlier state election where PH and BN compete against each other.[22] On 17 May 2026, former Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli took over BERSAMA party and together with his followers announced joint resignation as MP and defection from PKR.[23] On the opposition side, due to strained party-to-party relations, PAS decided to break political cooperation with BERSATU on 8 June 2026.[24] Both parties however confirmed separately they would remain members of PN.[25][26] Leader of Opposition Hamzah Zainuddin and his faction were either suspended or expelled by their party BERSATU on 13 February 2026 (with some decisions made separately before and after that).[27] While remaining as independent MPs and assemblymen, the group announced formation of WAWASAN party friendly to PAS.[28]

In addition to the major national coalitions, a number of regional parties and coalitions in East Malaysia are expected to be key players due to their potential as kingmakers in the post-election government formation. Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), a Sarawak-based coalition formed by former BN components, presently dominates politics in Sarawak and commands a significant bloc of parliamentary seats. In Sabah, the two largest parties are Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the ruling state government, and Parti Warisan (WARISAN), the state's main opposition. GRS supports stronger federal-state cooperation and is seen as closer to the unity government,[29] whereas WARISAN takes a more antagonistic stance against the federal government, utilising 'Sabah for Sabahan' rhetoric while simultaneously sitting in the government bench.[30] Within GRS, the election would be the first time its main component party GAGASAN contesting in a federal election after takeover by Chief Minister Hajiji's faction. The performances of these regional parties and their decisions to align with specific national coalitions is seen as key in determining the post-election government formation owing to the country's fragmented party system.

Name Ideology Position Leader 2022 result Standing before election Federal government
Votes (%) Seats
PH Pakatan Harapan
Alliance of Hope		 Reformism Centre to Centre-left Anwar Ibrahim 37.95%
81 / 222
76 / 222
 Government
PN Perikatan Nasional
National Alliance		 Right-wing populism Right-wing to far-right Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar 30.04%
74 / 222
68 / 222
 Opposition
BN Barisan Nasional
National Front		 National conservatism Centre-right to right-wing Ahmad Zahid Hamidi 22.24%
30 / 222
30 / 222
 Government
GPS Gabungan Parti Sarawak
Sarawak Parties Alliance		 Sarawak regionalism
Conservatism		 Centre-right to right-wing Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg 4.26%
23 / 222
23 / 222
 Government
GRS Gabungan Rakyat Sabah
Sabah People's Coalition		 Sabah regionalism
Conservatism		 Centre to centre-right Hajiji Noor 1.25%
6 / 222
5 / 222
 Government
WARISAN Parti Warisan
Heritage Party		 Sabah regionalism
Progressivism		 Centre Shafie Apdal 1.93%
3 / 222
3 / 222
 Government
BERSAMA Parti Bersama Malaysia
Malaysian United Party		 Liberal Democracy
Third Way		 Centre Rafizi Ramli —
0 / 222
0 / 222
 Opposition
Blok Progresif
Progressive Bloc		 Social democracy
Socialism		 Centre-left to left-wing Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz —
0 / 222
1 / 222
 Opposition

Prospective candidates

Timeline

Dissolution of parliament

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.

The 15th Parliament of Malaysia first convened on 19 December 2022. If the term of the 15th Parliament reaches its maximum date, it will automatically dissolve on 19 December 2027, paving way for an election within 60 days. The latest date for the 16th General Election will therefore be on 17 February 2028.

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 began Refs Term ends
(on or before)		 Latest possible
election date		 Refs
Malacca Malacca (15th) 27 December 2021 [33] 27 December 2026 25 February 2027
Sarawak Sarawak (19th) 14 February 2022 [34] 14 February 2027 15 April 2027
Perlis Perlis (15th) 19 December 2022 [35] 19 December 2027 17 February 2028
Perak Perak (15th) 19 December 2022 [36] 19 December 2027 17 February 2028
Pahang Pahang (15th) 29 December 2022 [37] 29 December 2027 27 February 2028
Penang Penang (15th) 29 August 2023 [38] 29 August 2028 28 October 2028
Kelantan Kelantan (15th) 5 September 2023 [39] 5 September 2028 4 November 2028
Selangor Selangor (15th) 19 September 2023 [40] 19 September 2028 18 November 2028
Terengganu Terengganu (15th) 24 September 2023 [41] 24 September 2028 23 November 2028
Kedah Kedah (15th) 25 September 2023 [42] 25 September 2028 24 November 2028
Sabah Sabah (17th) 11 December 2025 [43] 11 December 2030 9 February 2031
Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (16th) 18 August 2026 [44] 18 August 2031 17 October 2031
Johor Johor (16th) 27 August 2026 [45] 27 August 2031 26 October 2031

On 17 May 2026, Chief Minister of Malacca disclosed a possibility that his state's election could be held within 120 days after his statement.[46] Perikatan Nasional indicated that it would prefer simultaneous state and general elections on states they currently govern.[47]

Last election pendulum

The 15th General Election witnessed 148 governmental seats and 74 non-governmental seats filled the Dewan Rakyat. The government side has 43 safe seats and 9 fairly safe seats, while the other side has 21 safe seats and 10 fairly safe seats.

Outgoing members of parliament

Members of the 15th Parliament who were not contesting the Next election
No. Constituency Departing MP First elected Party Date announced Reason Refs
P159 Pasir Gudang Hassan Abdul Karim 2018 PH (PKR) 9 March 2025 Not seeking re-election [48]
P142 Labis Pang Hok Liong 2018 PH (DAP) 18 June 2026 [49]
P215 Kapit Alexander Nanta Linggi 1999 GPS (PBB) 9 May 2026 [50]

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. ↑ "Election Commission can consider redelineation of boundaries after March 2026, says deputy minister". The Edge. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Parliament session on Dec 19, motion of confidence on PM to be tabled - PM Anwar". Bernama. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "Syed Saddiq: Muda turns opposition as 'third force', withdraws from unity govt". Malay Mail. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Malaysia's 'Green Wave' Was a Long Time Coming". Fulcrum Singapore. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "'Green wave' sweeps over voters". The Star. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "'Gelombang hijau' PAS akan berkembang dalam PRN, kata Hadi". Free Malaysia Today. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "ULASAN Kejutan 'Gelombang Hijau' dalam PRU15". Malaysia Kini. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Bangkitnya 'gelombang hijau' di Malaysia". Benar News. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Gahagan, Jeremy (20 November 2022). "Malaysia elects first ever hung parliament". Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  12. 1 2 Ostwald, Kai (6 April 2020). "Malaysia 2020: The Impasse of Two-Coalition Politics" (PDF). ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "No Clear Winner as Malaysia Election Ends in Hung Parliament". AlJazeera. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "Malaysia's Ruling Coalition Says It Accepts Election Results". Reuters. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. ↑ Khoo, Boo Teik. "Malay Politics and the Evolution of CoalitionBehaviour" (PDF). ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  16. ↑ KOSMO! (10 September 2023). "Muda umum keluar, bakal duduk di blok pembangkang". Kosmo Digital (in Malay). Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Muda, PSM tubuh Blok Progresif untuk PRN Johor, Negeri Sembilan". Malaysiakini. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  18. ↑ Yamin, Essa Abu (10 November 2025). "UPKO umum keluar PH". Berita Harian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Upko applies to join GRS as component party". www.dailyexpress.com.my. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  20. ↑ Jalil, Mohd Amin (27 April 2026). "14 ADUN BN Negeri Sembilan tarik sokongan terhadap Menteri Besar". Berita Harian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  21. ↑ Reporters, F. M. T. (16 May 2026). "BN sah tanding solo PRN Johor". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  22. ↑ Buang, Zarrah Morden & Shakira (17 May 2026). "Loke cadang PH Negeri Sembilan pun tanding semua kerusi". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  23. ↑ Dzulqarnain, Qistina Nadia (17 May 2026). "Rafizi and Nik Nazmi quitting PKR, vacating seats, to head Bersama party". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "PAS hentikan kerjasama politik dengan Bersatu". Malaysiakini. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Yusry, Muhammad (9 June 2026). "Muhyiddin: Bersatu staying put in Perikatan despite PAS ending cooperation". Malay Mail. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  26. ↑ Mail, Malay (10 June 2026). "Annuar Musa: PAS to meet with Perikatan components, sans Bersatu, on coalition direction this week". Malay Mail. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  27. ↑ Parzi, Mohd Nasaruddin (13 February 2026). "BERSATU pecat Hamzah Zainudin". Berita Harian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Buang, Shakira (13 June 2026). "Hamzah reveals new 'Wawasan Negara' party, reappointed as opposition leader". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  29. ↑ NST Staff (December 2025). "GRS victory reflects Sabah-centric politics". New Straits Times. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  30. ↑ "Sabah election: Warisan increases its foothold". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "Asyraf Wajdi diumum calon BN Parlimen Gerik". 13 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "PRN Johor: DAP pertaruh peguam muda sebagai calon pertahan DUN Mengkibol - Loke | Awani". www.astroawani.com (in Malay). 18 June 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Othman, Farah Suhaidah (27 December 2021). "DUN Melaka – 20 ahli DUN angkat sumpah" (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  34. ↑ "ADUN Sarawak angkat sumpah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  35. ↑ Sharif, Aizat (19 December 2022). "14 Adun PN angkat sumpah di Perlis [METROTV]". Harian Metro. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  36. ↑ abdulrahman (19 December 2022). "Sidang DUN Perak Ke-15 Bermula, 58 ADUN Angkat Sumpah - Malaysiaaktif". Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  37. ↑ Yahya, Syahira (29 December 2022). "42 ADUN Pahang angkat sumpah". MalaysiaGazette. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  38. ↑ ROSLI, SYAJARATULHUDA MOHAMAD (29 August 2023). "40 ADUN Pulau Pinang angkat sumpah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  39. ↑ ABDULLAH, YATIMIN (5 September 2023). "45 ADUN Kelantan selesai angkat sumpah hari ini". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  40. ↑ Zain, Nizam (19 September 2023). "56 ADUN Selangor selesai angkat sumpah". MalaysiaGazette. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  41. ↑ KAMARUDDIN, KAMALIZA (24 September 2023). "Mohd. Nor dilantik Speaker DUN Terengganu baharu". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  42. ↑ HAMID, NURUL HIDAYAH (25 September 2023). "YDP Pas Langkawi angkat sumpah Speaker DUN Kedah". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  43. ↑ BERNAMA (12 November 2025). "78 ADUN Sabah Termasuk Enam Dilantik Angkat Sumpah Hari Ini". BERNAMA (in Malay). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  44. ↑ "Dr Awaludin dilantik Yang Dipertua DUN Negeri Sembilan". Portal Berita RTM. 18 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  45. ↑ Bernama (27 August 2026). "Adun Buloh Kasap speaker DUN Johor". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  46. ↑ Mamat, Amir (17 May 2026). "PRN Melaka diadakan menjelang September - Ab Rauf". Harian Metro. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "PN-led states expected to hold polls with GE16, says Ahmad Samsuri". The Star. 13 June 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  48. ↑ Mohamed Farid Noh (9 March 2025). "Hassan Karim umum tak tanding PRU-16" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  49. ↑ Nambiar, Predeep (18 June 2026). "DAP names lawyer Chu Poh Yee as Mengkibol candidate". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  50. ↑ Reporters, F. M. T. (9 May 2026). "Nanta not keen on defending Kapit seat in GE16". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
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