Kuala Lampur, July 18 -- The political significance of the Negeri Sembilan state election extends well beyond the boundaries of one state.

Coming shortly after Johor, it has become a test not merely of electoral popularity but of whether Malaysia is once again entering an era of political realignment reminiscent of the events that culminated in the Sheraton Move of February 2020.

The original Sheraton Move remains one of the most consequential episodes in Malaysia's democratic history.

It brought down the Pakatan Harapan government before it had completed its mandate, replacing it through parliamentary defections and coalition realignments rather than a general election.

The political consequences were profound. Malaysia experienced a...