20/02/2026

FRIDAY | FEB 20, 2026

3 Hidden causes of intra-party feuds

o Internal dissent rooted in structural political flaws, say analysts

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

within the party who wish to accrue benefits and strengthen their positions is another matter. He maintained that leadership challenges framed as accountability efforts often mask deeper contests over control of party hierarchy and electoral positioning ahead of elections. Meanwhile, Asia Group Advisers associate director Kamles Kumar said leadership challenges within Malaysian political parties reflect a transitional phase in party development, as governing responsibilities increasingly collide with electoral competition. “Leadership challenges today signal a transitional phase. As parties balance governing responsibilities with electoral competition, tolerance for internal dissent narrows.” While purges and disciplinary action may stabilise leadership in the short term, Kamles cautioned that they often come at the expense of renewal and cohesion. “They can consolidate authority temporarily, but at the cost of internal renewal and long-term unity.” organisation remains the overriding principle in Malaysian party politics. The senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Public Administration and Development Studies, Universiti Malaya, said any action perceived as challenging these two pillars – whether driven by ideological differences, strategic disagreements or personality conflicts – can quickly escalate into calls for expulsion. “In Malaysian party politics, loyalty to the top leader and the dominant voice within the party is paramount. Any move that runs counter to these – including actions by individuals or factions with differing ideologies, strategies or personal rivalries – can lead to demands for dismissal,” he said. “When leaders such as Khairy and Hamzah positioned themselves against the number one leader, it was bound to spark confrontation. They may have believed their actions were justified and supported by the majority, potentially paving the way for leadership transition.” However, he stressed that Malay political culture has long been shaped by patronage networks that reinforce the authority of party presidents. “Anyone can claim their struggle is genuine. The real question is who controls the party. In Malay party politics, one can raise any issue, but if it cannot compete with the entrenched patronage of the top leader, efforts to unseat that leader will not succeed.” Also agreeing to the sentiment, Asia Group Advisers associate director Kamles Kumar said that purging leaders in a party is often framed as being driven by ideals, but more often than not it is a strategic

PETALING JAYA: Internal party dissent that escalates into calls to sack leaders is rarely one-dimensional, but fundamentally structural, according to political analysts. “The root cause of internal dissent in Malaysia is the structure of our political landscape,” said Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun. Oh said party systems in Malaysia are highly centralised, with presidents and top leadership wielding enormous authority, particularly over candidate selection in general elections. “Party leaders wield immense power, controlling nominations and effectively ending the careers of those who fall out of favour,” he told theSun . He contrasted this with the system in the United States, where political parties function primarily as electoral machines and politicians appeal directly to voters and grassroots members to secure nominations and advance their ambitions. Oh said the fallout involving Khairy Jamaluddin in Umno, the purging of deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and his followers from Bersatu and the ongoing tensions between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his former deputy Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli all reflect a similar pattern. These conflicts illustrate a combination of policy divergence, leadership style, succession planning and competition over party machinery. Similarly, political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said loyalty to a party’s top leaders and the dominant voice within the challenges within political parties are seldom genuine reform efforts, but rather manifestations of power struggles, according to political analysts. Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said there is no such political creature as reform purely for the good of voters. “There are only well-disguised power struggles among ambitious political figures,” Oh told theSun via WhatsApp. Commenting on dissent led by figures such as former Economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli within PKR, Oh said the Pandan MP has been effective in cultivating a reformist image among the public. “For better or for worse, he has successfully portrayed a reformist image to the public at large.” However, Oh said that such positioning may not necessarily resonate with party insiders who have already tasted power and may be more inclined to consolidate their own influence. “Whether that appeals to those

An analyst says purging leaders in a party is often framed as being driven by ideals, but more often than not it is a strategic contest over control of party machinery, electoral positioning and succession. – BERNAMAPIC

Commenting on developments in PKR, particularly when figures such as Rafizi lead dissenting quarters, Kamles described the situation as more complex. “PKR presents a more layered case. When Rafizi leads dissent, it can genuinely reflect internal democratic pressure for accountability, especially given PKR’s reformist origins.” At the same time, he said that factional dynamics remain central. “Rafizi’s faction firmly believes that the current PKR leadership, including the president, has swayed away from the party’s original ideals. That belief shapes both the internal contestation and the broader narrative ahead of elections.” On the other hand, Universiti Malaya Department of Political Science, Public Administration and Development Studies senior lecturer Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said that the breakdown in understanding between Rafizi and party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim led to the current predicament. He said the current political dynamics place Rafizi at a structural contest over control of party machinery, electoral positioning and succession. Kamles said ideology frequently serves as the public justification, while personality clashes act as the catalyst. “Ultimately, many of these disputes serve personal political agendas,” he said. Referring to the fallout in Malaysian parties, Kamles said such conflicts are typically framed around reform, discipline, accountability or unity. “Beneath the surface, however,

Tawfik said the country still has some distance to cover. “Openly criticising party leadership, especially the president, remains at odds with prevailing Malay and Malaysian political norms. We may need another 10 to 15 years to see full political maturity in accommodating such internal dissent.” However, he observed that PKR’s handling of the situation signals a comparatively higher degree of openness. “Despite the criticisms, PKR and its president have not retaliated or expelled Rafizi, unlike what has occurred in other parties. This suggests a greater level of openness and maturity in managing internal crises compared with other political parties in Malaysia.” Rafizi has been more vocal against Anwar leadership ever since losing the PKR deputy presidency last year to Nurul Izzah Anwar in party polls. He had also recently openly urged Anwar to sack him from PKR if the party leadership could no longer tolerate his criticism. – BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE the reality that Ahmad Zahid remains powerful within the party and are making amends accordingly,” he said, referring to Khairy’s speculated return to Umno after he made an appearance in Umno’s last general assembly. In a significant shake-up of the Malaysian opposition front, Bersatu has expelled its deputy president and Opposition Leader Hamzah, along with 16 other party members, effective Feb 13 following months of intense internal power struggle between the Larut MP and party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

disadvantage, particularly as Anwar is not only the PKR president but also the prime minister. “At this point, there is clearly no longer a mutual understanding between Rafizi and the president. The president is not only party leader but also prime minister, which strengthens the politics of patronage. Anyone going against that tide will find it difficult to remain influential within the party.” Tawfik said that any attempt by Rafizi to mobilise support or generate momentum within PKR to rearrange the party hierarchy would face significant structural constraints. “Efforts to mobilise or create a wave within PKR to climb back into the leadership structure are largely futile because he is going against a major current. It becomes even more challenging when he holds no position in the party or the government. The larger factions are unlikely to heed his voice.” Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Rafizi may still exert limited influence. On the question of political maturity within Malaysian parties, they tend to revolve around who controls candidate selection, financial resources and the party’s direction ahead of elections. When leaders are seen as electorally weakening the party or narrowing access to internal power structures, dissent quickly escalates.” On Umno specifically, he said the episode involving Khairy reflected a recalibration of internal alignments. “It was clear that Khairy and his allies were opposed to (Umno President) Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s leadership earlier on. Now, many have come to terms with

Clash for power, not reform, behind most leadership challenges PETALING JAYA: Leadership