The ruling administration of Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state is at the brink of collapse after a key ally withdrew support on Monday in a spat that has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government.

Anwar has been facing growing pushback from allies and critics alike in recent months, ahead of national polls due in less than two years.

Parties across the aisle are doubling down on contentious issues to bolster support from their respective vote bases in multiracial Malaysia, unravelling the relative political stability under his ruling alliance since he took office in 2022.

The internal bickering came to a head on Monday after former ruling party Umno announced that it had withdrawn support for Negeri Sembilan’s chief minister, Aminuddin Harun, over his handling of an ongoing dispute in the state’s palace.

“All 14 Umno-BN Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen, hereby, unanimously, declare our loss of confidence in the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan and withdraw our support for the state government,” state Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias told a live news conference, using the Malay term for chief minister.

Umno’s withdrawal means the state government led by Aminuddin, a leader with Anwar’s People’s Justice Party, falls two seats short of a simple majority in the 36-seat state assembly – potentially losing the right to govern the state.