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 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 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.
