Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said political competition at the state level will not affect the stability of the federal unity government, stressing that the coalition remains committed to governing until Parliament is dissolved.

Speaking at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya on Thursday, Zahid said recent political developments following state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan would neither alter the direction of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s MADANI administration nor disrupt the implementation of government policies, programmes and development projects.

“As long as Parliament is not dissolved, the federal government will continue to function, the administration will carry on, and every responsibility entrusted to us by the people will be fulfilled as usual,” he said.

Zahid, who also chairs Barisan Nasional (BN), said cooperation within the unity government does not require coalition partners to abandon their individual political identities or principles.

He described the current arrangement as one based on “political autonomy,” allowing each party to pursue its own electoral strategy while continuing to honour the agreement that underpins the federal coalition.

According to Zahid, political parties can still compete against one another in state elections without jeopardising cooperation at the national level, citing countries such as Australia and Japan as examples where coalition partners maintain separate political identities while jointly governing.

His remarks come after the Aug. 1 Negeri Sembilan state election, in which BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured enough seats to form the state government, despite BN remaining a partner in the federal unity government led by Pakatan Harapan.

The unity government was formed after Malaysia’s 2022 general election produced a hung parliament, bringing together Pakatan Harapan, BN and several regional parties under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.