Malaysia PM Anwar faces first test in state elections

Ruling camp fights for votes as opposition plays up ethnic, religious identity

20230620 Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim PKR national congress March 2023

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gives the keynote address as party president during the People's Justice Party national congress in March 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)

NORMAN GOH, Nikkei staff writer

June 26, 2023 11:26 JST

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will face his first big test since he became prime minister last November, as the country holds state assembly elections in six of its 13 states as early as next month.