KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s upcoming state polls on Aug 12 are being closely watched for signs of whether the so-called “green wave” of political Islam and Malay nationalism touted by opposition alliance Perikatan Nasional (PN) will erode the strongholds of Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan that are currently controlled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

The term “green wave” first surfaced after the November 2022 general election, in which Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), with its trademark green and white moon logo, swept 43 of the 222 contested wards to become the largest party in Parliament. The religious party is a key component in PN and enjoys widespread support in the rural east and north of Peninsular Malaysia.