Since 2018, Malaysian politics has been marked by unprecedented volatility, initially fuelled by the optimism sparked by the victory of Pakatan Harapan in the general election that year.
While the early days of the new government started promisingly with a flurry of reform-oriented activities, progress stalled and eventually died when the PH government collapsed due to internal politicking in 2020.
What followed was a wearying game of musical chairs, with the prime minister’s post changing hands a couple of times until the 2022 general election led to the formation of a ‘unity government’ under Anwar Ibrahim.
While the return of PH to government was a welcome relief to the volatility of the previous years, the public mood was less sanguine given that no political partiy has an outright majority.
This led to a sense that the promised reforms by PH in the previous elections, which buoyed the coalition to power in 2018, would be abandoned.
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Indeed, the first three years of Anwar’s unity government seemed to reinforce this public perception.
However, 2026 started with some hopeful indications that this government will begin to implement reforms that were long promised, with three positive developments.
Ending the ‘eternal’ PM
The year started with the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announcing that steps will be taken to limit the tenure of the Prime Minister to two terms (10 years). This would bring to an end the ‘strongman’ politics that has dominated for much of the history of post-independence Malaysia.
More importantly, this reform seeks to shift the political system from personality politics to a system-based politics. By emphasising leadership succession, it ensures no single individual can dominate the office indefinitely – a practice that historically led to entrenched patronage and corruption.
That said, the government must ensure no legal loopholes exist to derail this reform, and the public must remain vigilant to ensure this promise is kept.
Separation and transparency
Second, the legislative calendar for this year includes several ambitious bills aimed at enhancing institutional integrity.
Most notable is the bill to separate the roles of the attorney general and the public prosecutor. This long-discussed reform is intended to reduce the risk of political interference in legal proceedings.
Additionally, the planned introduction of a freedom of information bill and an ombudsman bill suggests a move towards greater administrative accountability.
The proposed laws should dismantle the culture of secrecy, which had long been the norm in the civil service. Their effectiveness, however, will depend entirely on the strength of the final legislation.
The freedom of information law must avoid overly broad exemptions, while the ombudsman must be granted sufficient independent authority to act on public grievances.
Coalition politics established
Finally, the stability of the current political party system represents a departure from the turmoil of the early 2020s.
The ‘anti-hopping law’ has effectively ended the era of individual defections, forcing political actors to operate within disciplined blocs.
In 2026, we see the unity government not just as a marriage of convenience but as a maturing multi-coalition framework where traditionally rival parties – and powerful regional blocs from Sabah and Sarawak – must find common ground.
While this ‘negotiated governance’ can slow the pace of change, it also ensures that reforms like the term limit for the PM carry broad-based consensus, making them harder for future administrations to simply undo.
Whether this shift is a permanent change in political culture or a temporary strategic pivot remains to be seen.
A year of cautious optimism?
In conclusion, 2026 feels like a hopeful start where the country is moving away from political volatility towards institutional stability.
By moving to cap the PM’s tenure and decouple the legal powers of the attorney general, the unity government is starting to dismantle the strongman culture that fuelled years of volatility.
However, this is a moment for cautious optimism rather than outright celebration.
The success of these reforms – including the planned freedom of information and ombudsman bills – hinges entirely on the government’s willingness to avoid loopholes and ensure strict implementation.
The shift towards a more stable, policy-driven coalition politics is a promising departure from the musical chairs of the previous few years.
But the real test will be whether these changes can survive the political pressures of the coming years.
If they do, 2026 may be remembered as the moment Malaysia finally began building a system that is bigger than its leaders.
Chris Chong
Co-editor, Aliran newsletter
20 January 2026
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
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