Third Force, Royal Crisis and Heatwave: Malaysia’s Defining Week
By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
The week of 17 to 24 May 2026 will be remembered as the week Malaysia’s political landscape shifted on multiple fronts at once. Two former cabinet ministers quit the ruling coalition and launched a third force. The Negeri Sembilan royal crisis spiralled into a full political standoff, with 14 BN assemblymen withdrawing support for their own Menteri Besar before being pulled back from the brink, leaving a fragile peace that may yet unravel into a snap election. A new MACC chief began his tenure under immediate pressure. A nation baked in a heatwave that has already taken lives. And on Saturday night, two Malaysian sporting titles were claimed in the space of hours: the Sepak Takraw World Cup in a final that ended in walkout and controversy, and the Malaysia Cup in a match that sealed JDT’s historic fourth consecutive title, sending Johor into a public holiday.
This is the week that was.
POLITICS
THE BERSAMA MOMENT: RAFIZI AND NIK NAZMI QUIT PKR, LAUNCH THIRD-FORCE PARTY
In the most consequential political development of the year so far, former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and former Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad formally launched their new political platform at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre on Sunday 17 May, announcing they had assumed leadership of Parti Bersama Malaysia, a small, little-known Penang-based party registered in December 2016 under businessman Tan Gin Theam, who handed over the party helm at the ceremony.
The two men simultaneously announced they were resigning from PKR, Rafizi as deputy president and Nik Nazmi as vice-president, having spent nearly a year in an increasingly strained internal relationship following their defeat at last May’s party polls, which both alleged were marred by irregularities. The following day, Monday 18 May, they submitted resignation letters as Members of Parliament for Pandan and Setiawangsa respectively to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul. On Tuesday 19 May, they formally notified PKR secretary-general Dr Fuziah Salleh of their departure from the party. By Wednesday 21 May, the Election Commission confirmed there would be no by-elections for either seat, citing Article 54(1) of the Federal Constitution, which provides that casual vacancies need not be filled if Parliament is within two years of dissolution. The government’s parliamentary majority, which stood at 152 before the resignations, fell to 150, still comfortably above the 112 required.
Bersama’s positioning is deliberately distinct from both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional. Rafizi described it as a centrist, multiracial third force that will contest seats independently without entering any coalition, guided by policy rather than political accommodation. The party’s new logo features a kancil, the clever mouse deer of Malay folklore, chosen for its symbolism of wit and resourcefulness against more powerful adversaries. Rafizi also hinted that more elected representatives might eventually consider joining Bersama, though he acknowledged the Anti-Party Hopping Law as a binding constraint. Both he and Nik Nazmi said they intend to contest again in their own constituencies of Pandan and Setiawangsa under the Bersama banner at the next election.
ANALYSIS: The launch of Bersama is the most significant political event of 2026 to date, but its actual impact remains deeply uncertain. Its immediate effect is felt entirely within Pakatan Harapan. Political analysts including Prof James Chin of the University of Tasmania and Azmi Hassan of Nusantara Academy agree that Bersama’s natural constituency of urban, progressive, reform-minded voters overlaps substantially with PKR and DAP’s support base. If Bersama fields credible candidates in Pandan and Setiawangsa and in urban Peninsular seats, it could split the progressive vote in exactly the constituencies where PH can least afford to lose ground. That said, a third-force party without a coalition safety net, without incumbency, and without the resources of established parties faces formidable structural barriers. The more interesting question is institutional: will Bersama attract sitting MPs and assemblymen from PKR and even DAP, and if so, at what point does that tilt the arithmetic of GE16 in ways nobody has yet modelled?
NEGERI SEMBILAN: A ROYAL CRISIS BECOMES A POLITICAL ONE
What began in April as a constitutional dispute over the attempted deposition of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir has this week fully transformed into one of the most complex political crises in recent Malaysian state history. The full sequence must be understood in layers. On 19 April, the four Undang purported to depose Tuanku Muhriz and named a new ruler, a declaration rejected by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun as legally void since the most senior Undang, Datuk Mubarak Dohak of Sungai Ujong, had himself been stripped of authority in May 2025. The four Undang then boycotted the state assembly opening on 23 April.
The crisis took a sharp political turn on 27 April, when all 14 Umno and Barisan Nasional state assemblymen, led by Negeri Sembilan Umno chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, unanimously withdrew their support for Aminuddin as Menteri Besar. Their stated grievance was Aminuddin’s handling of the royal-customary dispute. The withdrawal left PH with only 17 seats in the 36-seat assembly, below the 19 required for a simple majority. Perikatan Nasional’s five assemblymen simultaneously signalled support for BN, briefly giving the opposition bloc a claimed majority of 19. The situation looked precarious for the Aminuddin-led government. However, Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stepped in, holding discussions with the 14 assemblymen and on 5 May directing them to continue supporting the unity government. On 6 May, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil formally declared the crisis resolved. Aminuddin retained his post.
But the resolution was imperfect and widely understood to be fragile. Negeri Sembilan Umno confirmed its 14 assemblymen would remain in the unity government as directed by central leadership, while simultaneously maintaining their personal loss of confidence in Aminuddin. The ambiguity has kept the state’s political temperature elevated. At the Pakatan Harapan Convention in Johor Bahru on 17 May, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke escalated the stakes considerably, declaring that if Johor dissolves its state assembly ahead of GE16, Negeri Sembilan is prepared to do the same. On 24 May, Loke went further, saying PH is ready to contest all 36 Negeri Sembilan seats independently, without BN, if the political situation demands it. Umno deputy chairman and former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has also indicated that dissolving the assembly could be the cleanest resolution to both the political and royal crises.
ANALYSIS: Negeri Sembilan is now simultaneously managing three interlocking crises: a royal-customary standoff between the four Undang and the sitting ruler that has no clear legal resolution; a state government whose BN support base has formally declared a loss of confidence in the Menteri Besar while officially remaining in the coalition; and an opposition PN bloc that gains strategic leverage simply by existing on the sideline as a potential kingmaker. The dissolution option, once floated only by DAP, is now being seriously discussed across the political spectrum precisely because a fresh election is the one mechanism that could reset all three clocks simultaneously. Whether Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar consents to a dissolution requested by an Aminuddin-led government remains the critical constitutional variable.
GOVERNANCE
MALAYSIA’S NEW MACC CHIEF BEGINS IN EARNEST, AND HIS FIRST TEST ARRIVES IMMEDIATELY
Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman officially began his duties as MACC chief commissioner on Wednesday 13 May, one day after his predecessor Tan Sri Azam Baki concluded 42 years of service with the agency. Abdul Halim, 69, a former High Court judge who served across Temerloh, Kuantan, Penang, Johor Bahru and Shah Alam, was appointed on a two-year contract effective until 12 May 2028 following royal consent by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the government was confident Abdul Halim’s legal experience and integrity would strengthen governance and restore public confidence. In his first public remarks, Abdul Halim pledged to conduct his duties professionally, independently and without fear or favour.
His first substantive test arrived almost immediately. The ongoing investigation into the RM1.1 billion government deal with UK-based semiconductor firm Arm Holdings, in which Rafizi Ramli as former Economy Minister is a central figure in the investigation, continues under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009. How the new chief commissioner handles the politically charged case will be one of the earliest and most consequential tests of his stated independence.
ANALYSIS: Abdul Halim’s judicial background is both his greatest asset and his most significant challenge. A career on the bench brings credibility and familiarity with evidentiary standards. But unlike Azam Baki, Abdul Halim enters as an outsider inheriting an agency under intense public scrutiny and political pressure. The Arm Holdings investigation will shape perceptions of whether the MACC can genuinely be seen to act independently of political calculation.
ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC HEALTH
MALAYSIA BAKES: TWO DEAD, 56 SICKENED AS HEATWAVE PERSISTS INTO MAY
Malaysia’s ongoing heatwave claimed two lives and generated 56 heat-related illness cases nationwide from 1 January to 3 May 2026, the Health Ministry confirmed. The fatalities involved a two-year-old boy left inside a parked vehicle and a 42-year-old man from Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, who collapsed from heatstroke after completing a 30-kilometre hill run in Penang.
Of the 56 illness cases recorded, 47 involved heat exhaustion. Nearly 58 per cent were linked to physical activity during hot weather, including sports and intensive outdoor training.
The heatwave has been especially severe in northern Peninsular Malaysia. By mid-May, heat index readings in parts of Kuala Lumpur were approaching 40 degrees Celsius, prompting Malaysia and Thailand to issue red-level heat warnings across the region. Schools in affected districts suspended outdoor activities, while cloud-seeding operations were activated in drought-hit areas.
ANALYSIS: The 2026 heatwave is no longer a seasonal inconvenience but a public health emergency. The deaths in Penang and the parked-vehicle incident illustrate the growing risks posed by extreme temperatures. Malaysia’s response remains reactive rather than structural. The country increasingly needs a long-term urban heat action strategy, not merely seasonal alerts and temporary mitigation measures.
SPORT
MALAYSIA WINS SEPAK TAKRAW WORLD CUP, BUT FINAL ENDS IN CONTROVERSY
Malaysia won the team regu title at the 2026 TM ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup at Stadium Titiwangsa on Saturday 23 May after Thailand withdrew from the deciding match following a disputed officiating call.
The victory ended Thailand’s dominance of the modern tournament era and handed Malaysia its first World Cup team regu title in the competition’s current format. Earlier in the week, Malaysia had also won the inaugural quadrant world title by defeating India 2-0.
However, the regu final’s conclusion sparked intense debate after Thailand disputed a foot-fault ruling that cannot be reviewed under current regulations. Following a prolonged protest, the Thai team walked off court, handing Malaysia the title by forfeiture.
ANALYSIS: Malaysia earned the title over the course of the tournament, particularly through its strong performances in both the regu and quadrant formats. But a title decided following a disputed walkout inevitably leaves lingering questions. The absence of a detailed response from ISTAF has only prolonged debate over the officiating process and the handling of the final.
JDT WIN SIXTH MALAYSIA CUP, JOHOR DECLARES STATE HOLIDAY
Johor Darul Ta’zim defeated Kuching City FC 2-0 at Bukit Jalil on Saturday 23 May to lift the Malaysia Cup and complete another season of domestic dominance.
Goals from Marcos Guilherme and Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi sealed the victory before more than 50,000 supporters. The result gave JDT their sixth Malaysia Cup title and made them the first club in the modern era to win four consecutive Malaysia Cup titles.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi subsequently declared Monday 25 May a special state holiday in Johor with the consent of Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
ANALYSIS: JDT’s supremacy has moved beyond ordinary dominance into structural control of Malaysian football. Their sustained success reflects investment, continuity and academy development unmatched elsewhere in the domestic game. The challenge for Malaysian football now is maintaining competitive balance while raising overall standards nationwide.
SOCIETY
31,600 MALAYSIANS IN THE HOLY LAND: HAJI 2026 REACHES ITS SPIRITUAL PEAK
Malaysia’s Haji 2026 season entered its spiritual peak this week with 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims completing their arrival in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Day of Wukuf on 26 May.
The pilgrimage unfolds amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict and against the backdrop of severe heat conditions across the Middle East. Malaysian medical teams and welfare officers have been deployed extensively to monitor pilgrims and mitigate heat-related risks following the deadly 2024 Mecca heatwave.
ANALYSIS: Haji is not merely a logistical operation for Malaysia but a deeply personal national undertaking involving thousands of families. The management of this year’s pilgrimage has so far remained stable and orderly. But the heat factor remains the greatest concern, particularly for elderly pilgrims performing physically demanding rites under temperatures regularly exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
NUMBERS TO NOTE
4 — Consecutive Malaysia Cup titles won by JDT
6 — Total Malaysia Cup titles won by JDT
14 — BN assemblymen who withdrew support for Aminuddin Harun
17 — PH seats remaining in Negeri Sembilan after BN’s withdrawal
2 — Heatstroke-related deaths recorded nationwide
31,600 — Malaysian Haji quota for 2026
3 — Consecutive World Cup regu titles previously won by Thailand
2 years — Abdul Halim Aman’s MACC contract term
RM1.1 billion — Arm Holdings deal under MACC investigation
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT WEEK
- Negeri Sembilan — will the state assembly be dissolved?
- Bersama’s next moves — who follows Rafizi?
- MACC Arm Holdings investigation — will the investigation progress further?
- Heatwave — will the Southwest Monsoon arrive on schedule?
- ISTAF — will there be a formal ruling on the takraw final?
- Haji 2026 — Day of Wukuf and the start of return flights
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
Malaysia enters the week ahead carrying more unresolved threads than it has seen in many months. The Negeri Sembilan truce remains fragile. Bersama is launched but untested. A new MACC chief faces a politically charged investigation from day one. The heatwave continues. Tens of thousands of Malaysian pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah for the most sacred day of the Haji calendar. In sport, JDT reigns supreme and Malaysia’s sepak takraw title remains under debate despite the celebrations.
Malaysia rarely moves in a straight line. Next week, it will continue to prove it.
EDITORIAL NOTE
All facts in this edition are attributed to named, published sources as indicated. Ongoing investigations are identified as such. No copyrighted text has been reproduced verbatim. Analysis sections reflect the editorial assessment of TNS News.
- TNS NEWS