[2] After the 2022 Malaysian general election resulted in a hung parliament, Pakatan Harapan entered into coalition with Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), WARISAN, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), Social Democratic Harmony Party (KDM), and independents to form what is commonly referred to as a national unity government, with PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

[16] In the 2018 election held on 9 May, Pakatan Harapan managed to win a simple majority of seats in the Dewan Rakyat, dislodging Barisan as the ruling coalition and ending its 60-year long stint in government.

Following the coalition's victory, the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation announced their exit from Barisan and that they would seek to form a state government in Sabah with WARISAN and Pakatan Harapan.

[17] The coalition also formed the government in the states of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sabah.

[18] In a 2020 article published in the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute journal of Southeast Asian Affairs, academic Ross Tapsell wrote of the coalition's efforts to ensure an independent trial for former prime minister Najib's corruption charges, the establishment of an independent anti-corruption commission, and the repealing of anti-fake news legislation, but also of the lack of action regarding decentralisation in relation to the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak, education reform, issues relating to the country's indigenous peoples (Orang Asli), racial inequality and political patronage, commenting that the Pakatan government was distracted by factional infighting.

The political crisis sparked by Mahathir's resignation culminated in the coalition government's collapse as it no longer had a majority in parliament.

Eventually, a new rival coalition led by Mahathir's deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, consisting of BERSATU and PAS named Perikatan Nasional, formed a new government with the support of Barisan.

This arrangement was replicated on the state-level, with Pakatan participating in the government of seven states while providing confidence and supply in Johor.