In partnership with AIIA Tasmania, AIIA WA was pleased to host a Webinar-only discussion on Malaysian politics following the elections held on 19 November 2022, which resulted in a hung parliament and a patchwork coalition led by long term opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

The 2018 ground-breaking election, at which the Barisan Nasional (National Alliance) lost government for the first time since the nation's independence in 1957, heralded the start of a new form of politics in Malaysia. Shifting coalitions of members of parliament resulted in three different Prime Ministers during the parliamentary term.

This panel discussion explored the reasons for the elections results, how the Anwar led coalition was able to form government, how the first 100 days have gone, and what  these early days say about the longevity of his leadership. As an avowed internationalist and a reputation as a global thinker, the panel will also look at Anwar's foreign policy priorities and what his influence is likely to be in the region.

The panel was moderated by President of AIIA WA Brendan Augustin with Dr James Chin, a leading scholar of contemporary Malaysian politics and a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania  and Vice President of AIIA Tasmania; and Jahabar Sadiq, who runs the online news portal, Malaysian Insight, and has been a journalist covering Malaysia and region since 1988. Both are regular guests on international news outlets reporting on developments in Malaysia.