IT is rare for an exchange of pantun between arguably the country’s two most powerful political leaders to dominate the national conversation, but that is precisely what has happened over the past 72 hours.
The exchange has gone viral, with many describing it as a poetic affirmation of political stability — a word that has become central to the narrative of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led unity government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who leads PH, took to social media to post the following pantun:
Burung merbah terbang sekawan; guruh berdentum membelah awan; berbeza langkah, jangan putus kawan; selagi muafakat, kita sehaluan. (The bulbuls fly together; thunder splits the sky; though our paths may differ, let friendship endure; as long as there is consensus, we remain on the same course.)
Adding another layer of symbolism, the post was accompanied by the evergreen 1980s hit Madu dan Racun (Honey and Poison).
A day later, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi responded while speaking at an event in Penang, Anwar’s home state.
Bumbung tercabut, mampu ditahan, jika ribut, diterbang ke laut. (Even when roofs are torn away, they can be rebuilt; storms may come, but they too shall pass.)
His message was unmistakable: cooperation can withstand adversity, even if some are swept away along the journey.
Ahmad Zahid, who once served as Anwar’s political secretary, went further by dismissing speculation that Barisan Nasional (BN) was attempting to destabilise the federal government.
“There is no Bangkok Move. There is no Dubai Move,” he told reporters, reiterating BN’s commitment to supporting the unity government until the end of its term.
The next general election must be held by November 2027.
Ironically, while BN and PH continue governing together at the federal level, they remain fierce rivals in the ongoing Negeri Sembilan state election. Melaka and Sarawak are also expected to head to the polls in due course.
Only last month, BN demonstrated that it remains a formidable political force after sweeping the Johor state election.
Later today, Anwar is scheduled to return to Penang for two significant engagements: the launch of an economic empowerment programme for the Indian Muslim community and the reopening of Fort Cornwallis, one of the state’s most recognisable historical landmarks.
If history is written about Malaysia’s unity government from 2022 onwards, two figures will inevitably dominate the narrative — Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Unity itself is an elusive concept. In an age driven by social media, even families struggle to remain united. Governing a country as ethnically, culturally and politically diverse as Malaysia is infinitely more challenging.
Yet political stability has provided something of a temporary painkiller for a nation still recovering from the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The silence of lockdowns and movement restrictions has since given way to a far noisier political landscape, where public debate is louder, divisions are sharper and voters are preparing for yet another electoral contest.
Malaysia also appears to be entering a period where perceptions of the Malay ruling class taking sides in political contests have become increasingly common.
Political scientist James Chin observed that BN was widely perceived to have enjoyed royal favour during the Johor election, while in Negeri Sembilan, PH is seen by some as defending the state’s royal institution.
Whether these perceptions are accurate matters less than the fact that they now shape public discourse.
The larger question is whether BN and PH will continue competing without pushing politics to a point where race, religion and royalty once again dominate national discourse, or whether the personal rapport between Anwar and Ahmad Zahid can continue preventing the country from drifting towards deeper political instability.
Malaysia’s diversity remains one of its defining characteristics.
Non-Malays account for roughly 30 per cent of the country’s 36.39 million citizens. That diversity has always required careful political management, inclusive policymaking and leadership that inspires confidence across communities.
Many voters also believe Anwar has yet to deliver the meaningful institutional reforms promised when he came to power. The perceived lack of progress has contributed to divisions within PKR and raised questions among many non-Malay voters.
The government’s response has been consistent: it needs more time.
The question confronting voters is straightforward — how much more time?
As Malaysians continue grappling with rising living costs, persistent corruption, political manoeuvring and concerns over governance, many increasingly feel frustrated and uncertain about the country’s direction.
Malaysia was once capable of competing with footballing powers such as South Korea and Japan. Today, both nations are making deep runs at the FIFA World Cup and defeating traditional giants such as Brazil and England.
Back then, national conversations were less consumed by race, religion and royalty. The country’s focus was on proving itself on the global stage despite sceptics who believed Malaysia’s diversity would ultimately become its weakness.
That challenge remains today.
The question is whether Malaysians can once again choose unity, merit and national purpose over division and political expediency. – July 24, 2026
John Chin is a Scoop reader