Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hinted at the possibility of dissolving Parliament earlier than expected to pave the way for the 16th General Election (GE16) if political tensions within the Unity Government continue to threaten national stability.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman said the stance came following UMNO and Barisan Nasional’s (BN) decision to contest all seats in Johor in the upcoming state election.
According to Anwar, if coalition partners choose to “go into battle” and weaken ties within the government, he would not hesitate to return the mandate to the people to decide the country’s political future.
“In the near future, I will need to call PH leaders for discussions. We must seriously think about this situation. If this is how relationships within the government are being shaken and fractured, should we consider holding a nationwide general election?” he said.
He made the remarks while delivering his keynote address during the climax of the PH Convention 2026 at the Persada International Convention Centre in Johor on Sunday.
Anwar stressed that although the final authority to decide on the timing of a general election lies with the Prime Minister, he would still consult PH leadership before making any drastic decision.
He also issued a strong warning that PH is prepared to field candidates in all seats across Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Melaka, Penang and Pahang if political negotiations fail to reach an agreement.
“If that is their choice, PH will contest in all constituencies and we will monitor the situation closely. I will discuss with my colleagues whether we are ready to move towards an early general election,” he added.
Despite the growing political tension, Anwar said he still prioritises patience and political stability to safeguard the country’s economy and ensure continued prosperity for the people.
“However, as I said earlier, if they are the ones who begin to break the understanding, we will respond firmly. But if discussions are conducted properly, we are people who are patient, wise and committed to saving the country,” he said.
The Prime Minister also urged the entire PH machinery to remain fully prepared and unafraid should the coalition be forced to face a series of elections in the near future to defend the party’s principles and political direction.
