Analysts suggest that a breakaway faction led by Rafizi Ramli poses a more significant threat to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim than the opposition coalition. The move could draw away reformist voters from the ruling party.

Former Malaysian economy minister Rafizi Ramli’s breakaway gamble is unlikely to bring down Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on its own, analysts say, but could still wound the ruling coalition by peeling away reformist voters who helped Pakatan Harapan (PH) take power in 2022. Rafizi and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced on Sunday that they would quit Anwar’s People Justice Party (PKR), vacate their parliamentary seats and take over...