Federal-State Relations in Malaysia: Dynamics, Developments and a Deep Dive into Sabah

MALAYSIA STUDIES PROGRAMME

About the Webinar

Federal-state relations in Malaysia today are more dynamic than ever before, with states having changed leadership several times following the 2022 general election and several state-level elections between 2020 and 2023. At present, there are seven states under the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PHBN) grand coalition—three with PH Chief Ministers and four with BN Chief Ministers, four states under the Malaysian Islamic Party PAS, and Sabah and Sarawak under their respective state-specific coalitions.

This webinar will first shed light on federal-state relations under the Madani government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focusing on administrative, fiscal and political developments as states navigate their relationship with the federal government at the centre. Reflecting the country’s more fluid political situation, states under different coalitions have increasingly demanded more policy autonomy and higher fiscal transfers. What immediate and long-term solutions are available for policymakers at both federal and state levels to resolve these tensions?

The webinar will then zoom in on Sabah’s political context and future outlook. It will uncover the complexities and underlying factors driving the frequent changes in governance and the phenomenon of party-switching among politicians in the state. It will offer a deep dive into the intricacies of Sabah politics, providing a comprehensive analysis of its past turbulent episodes, current dynamics, and prospects leading up to the critical state election by December 2025.

About the Speaker

Dr Tricia Yeoh is Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and CEO of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).

Dr Arnold Puyok is Deputy Dean and Senior Lecturer in Politics and Government Studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. He was also Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Registration

This webinar will be delivered online entirely. To join us, please register here to receive your unique link.

Please note that each registration is good for only one login at any one time during the event.