Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing growing pressure from both high-profile and rank-and-file defections within his People's Justice Party (PKR), with roughly 6,000 former PKR members in recent weeks applying to join a newly revamped Bersama party led by former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, Reuters reported May 29. The defections are adding to wider speculation of a snap election after Anwar recently raised the possibility of early polls as soon as July, with the next general election due by February 2028.

Upcoming state elections in Johor, Malacca and Sarawak are creating tensions with coalition partner UMNO. Frustration over the slow pace of reforms has also eroded support from Anwar's base, further incentivizing the prime minister to get ahead of incoming shifts in Malaysia's political environment.