Latest news with #Bersatu
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Joining united front not the same as signing up with PN, says Ramasamy
Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said his party supports Bersatu's call for a united opposition but has no intention of becoming part of PN. PETALING JAYA : Joining a united opposition front comprising various parties outside the ruling bloc is not the same as entering a formal coalition like Perikatan Nasional (PN), Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said following the views of two political analysts on the matter. Ramasamy said it was misleading to suggest that political parties like Muda or Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) avoid the initiative solely due to the perception that it is an extension of PN. In a statement, he said such a view 'conflates two very different political realities'. He gave the example of his party, which he said supports Bersatu's call for a united opposition but has no intention of becoming part of PN. 'There is a fundamental misunderstanding in equating participation in the united front with formal membership in Bersatu, PAS, or the PN coalition. 'This distinction is critical. Supporting a broader political platform to challenge the government does not imply ideological alignment with all parties involved.' Earlier today, two political analysts told FMT that Muda risked eroding its modest support base by aligning with Bersatu on its proposed united opposition front. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Azmil Tayeb said joining the pact would tarnish Muda's image as a moderate party, while Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the party could lose its core supporters. Bersatu agreed last week that its president Muhyiddin Yassin would spearhead efforts to build a united opposition front in preparation for the 16th general election. Subsequently, on July 18, the former prime minister met with the heads of various parties opposed to the government, including Muda, PSM, Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party, and Urimai. Ramasamy said equating the united opposition front with a formal coalition 'oversimplified' the political landscape and unfairly discredited efforts to build a more inclusive opposition. 'Analysts and detractors alike would do well to acknowledge this complexity rather than indulge in lazy political shorthand,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Join ‘united opposition front' at own risk, Muda warned
On July 18, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin met with leaders from Muda, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party and Urimai to discuss the proposed united opposition front. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Muda risks eroding its modest support base by aligning with Bersatu on its proposed 'united opposition front', two political analysts have warned. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Azmil Tayeb said joining the pact would tarnish Muda's image as a moderate party. Oh Ei Sun. Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said Muda draws much of its support from middle- to upper-class moderates and liberals in urban and suburban areas. He said this voter demographic tends to abhor the conservative and regressive leanings associated with Perikatan Nasional (PN), the opposition coalition led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. 'By associating itself with PN, Muda risks losing these core supporters,' he told FMT. 'They will make for the doors the moment they hear Muda is affiliating itself with PN.' Azmil Tayeb. Azmil warned Muda against associating itself with far-right parties like Berjasa, Mukhriz Mahathir's Pejuang, and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), led by the controversial Ibrahim Ali. 'In my opinion, this coalition (the united opposition front) has no clear ideology and agenda other than to bring down Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It's an unstable coalition with parties that are so different from one another,' he said. '(Joining it will) reflect badly on Muda's image and reputation as a multiethnic and multireligious party.' Last week, Bersatu's Supreme Council agreed that Muhyiddin should spearhead efforts to build a united opposition front in preparation for the 16th general election. Following that, on July 18, the Bersatu president held a meeting with the heads of various parties opposed to the government, including Muda, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party and P Ramasamy's Urimai. PAS did not attend the meeting, citing 'other commitments' involving its senior leadership. Ramasamy has since expressed his support for the pact, but PSM and Muda said they remain undecided. Azmil said Muda should instead focus on bolstering its existing partnership with PSM and working at the grassroots level 'regardless of the reward'. Oh, however, said Muda must align itself with one of the three grand coalitions in Malaysia's political arena — PN, Pakatan Harapan or Barisan Nasional. He said that, to date, no political party has emerged on its own as a credible third force capable of reshaping the national political landscape. 'It will be a prolonged struggle if Muda were to remain unaligned,' he added. Muda contested under the PH banner in the 2022 general election. However, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, its founder and sole MP, withdrew the party's support for the unity government in September 2023 . The party also signed a pact with PSM in the lead-up to the six state elections held in August 2023. However, both saw their candidates soundly beaten at the polls.
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
PMX must be careful with what he wishes for after he mocks opposition to table no confidence motion
'IF HE is as gutsy as he has sounded, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should hold a secret vote of no confidence which is free from (party) whip restrictions. But he's unlikely to do so.' Such is the challenge threw at PMX yesterday (July 22) by Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz after he dared the opposition to bring on a vote of no-confidence in Parliament if they plan to remove him from power. This came about after PMX told a gathering of the Prime Minister's Department staff in Putrajaya that he had reminded the police not to block this Saturday's PAS-inspired Turun Anwar rally This is when he insinuated that he would be waiting for the motion of no confidence with yesterday (July 21) being the first day of the Dewan Rakyat session. 'If there is a majority, if there are enough numbers, go ahead,' he challenged. Elaborating on his proposed secret vote of no confidence without party whip restrictions, Tun Faisal said this was the quickest way to unseat PMX. 'If we hold a vote of no confidence in secret today without (party) whip restrictions, tomorrow, God willing, the country will have PM11 and a new government,' he said in a comment to a Malaysiakini Facebook post entitled 'Anwar Signals Gov't Will Allow Vote of No confidence in Parliament'. 'With reference to the previous Langkah Dubai (Dubai Move), the government had claimed that the PM11 candidate from the opposition bloc could secure up to 123 votes. 'Since Anwar is highly unlikely to hold a vote of no confidence in secret and free from (party) whip restrictions, then on July 26 the rakyat shall continue to gather and demand that Anwar steps down and resign.' Interestingly, PMX's latest gesture of turning the tables on the opposition received mixed responses with some reminding the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition that PMX has thrown the ball back to their court while some cautioned PMX to be extra careful with what he wishes for. Some even wondered if the opposition has the guts to push through the no confidence motion while others are wary if the 'backdoor government gang' of Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin (Bersatu president) and Tan Sri Hadi Awang would make a comeback. Others went on the lambast the opposition for being 'weak' and unable to play 'a proper check and balance role'. – July 22, 2025
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Johor Amanah eyes incumbent BN state seats of Skudai, Kota Iskandar
JOHOR BARU: Parti Amanah Negara wants Pakatan Harapan to contest solo in the Skudai and Kota Iskandar state seats under the Iskandar Puteri parliamentary constituency. This could mean a head-to-head battle between Pakatan and Barisan Nasional, which is the incumbent in Kota Iskandar. Iskandar Puteri Amanah division chief Dzulkefly Ahmad said the decision for Pakatan to contest in both the state seats under the Iskandar Puteri parliamentary constituency came during the division's annual general meeting on Sunday (July 20). 'Amanah is prepared to face any possibilities, including three-cornered fights if necessary, by bringing the people's agenda of national unity, institutional reform and sustainable development. 'This decision was made in the spirit of reinforcing Pakatan and ensuring Johoreans continue to have the best choice when evaluating principled and capable candidates focused on the people's interest,' he said in a statement on Monday (July 21). Dzulkefly, who is also Johor Amanah deputy chief, added that this reflected the party's commitment to strengthening Pakatan in key strategic areas to ensure continuity of progressive and inclusive governance for the rakyat. He also said that any negotiations in view of the upcoming state election should consider grassroots strength and the past performance of candidates and parties in each constituency. In the 2022 Johor election, Dzulkefly went up against a five-cornered fight with Barisan's Pandak Ahmad (Umno), Perikatan Nasional's Samsudin Ismail (Bersatu), Gerakan Tanah Air's Dr Zaini Abu Bakar (Pejuang) and Parti Sosialist Malaysia's R. Arangkannal. Pandak won the seat with 23,133 votes while Dzulkefly received 18,773 votes. Pakatan's Marina Ibrahim won the Skudai seat, a DAP stronghold, in a three-cornered fight against Barisan's Lim Soon Hai (MCA) and Perikatan's Khoo Kong Ek (Bersatu).
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Ramasamy defends Bersatu, takes a jibe at Puad Zarkashi's fear of UMNO losing grounds among Malays
UMNO supreme council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi may soon earn the image of a politician who cannot differentiate between outright lies and facts. In his recent Facebook posting, he ridiculed Bersatu for calling a meeting of political parties not aligned with the government in an attempt to forge a united opposition front against the Madani government. He not only mocked Bersatu for inviting leaders of what he termed 'mosquito' political parties but also questioned the participation of Urimai's chairman Prof Ramasamy Palanisami, a former DAP member and former Penang deputy chief minister II, and P. Waytha Moorthy, the president of MAP (Malaysian Advancement Party) and a former HINDRAF (Hindu Action Front) leader. In his usual characteristic UMNO fashion, Puad falsely claimed that PAS did not participate in the gathering because the party opposed these Indian-based political parties due to their support for ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racism) – an issue PAS has historically rejected. The Johor state assembly speaker fails miserably to realise that Urimai is not yet a registered political party and was only formed two years ago. Come November 2025, Urimai – or the United Rights of the Malaysian Party – will mark its two-year anniversary. Urimai was refused registration likely due to its vocal stance as part of the opposition front. As for MAP's supposed support of ICERD, this is a matter best clarified by its president Waytha Moorthy. Fear of UMNO losing ground Puad may be a gung-ho UMNO leader but he conveniently ignores his own party's questionable alliance with DAP – a party once considered UMNO's sworn political enemy. The allure of political power and positions has pushed leaders like Puad to overlook past hostilities, embracing instead what is now a marriage of convenience with DAP. Rather than commenting on PAS's absence from Bersatu's recent meeting, wouldn't it be wiser for Puad to justify UMNO's alliance with DAP – a partnership still widely opposed by the party's Malay grassroots? If PAS is truly against Urimai and MAP, then why did the party previously participate in the 'Secretariat for the Defence of the Judiciary' alongside leaders Ramasamy and Waytha Moorthy? Puad's sudden interest in Bersatu's united front initiative signals a growing fear that UMNO is steadily losing ground among the Malays. UMNO's obsession with the royal addendum enabling house arrest for incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak only reflects the party's internal dilemma. Puad, acting as UMNO's unofficial loudspeaker, is merely trying to project political relevance amid rising discontent with the party among Malay voters. The house arrest arrangement for Najib may provide UMNO with temporary leverage but it does little to resolve its credibility crisis. In the meantime, Puad would do well to refrain from relying on lies and half-truths in his attempts to re-establish UMNO's political standing. – July 22, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image credit: Malay Mail
