11/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 11, 2026

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Public opinion indicates hope, discontent and fatigue

‘Umno, BN comfortable with component parties in govt’ KUALA LUMPUR: Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are comfortable working with all component parties in the Unity government as they share common objectives, particularly in serving the interests of the people, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Umno president said the ease of cooperation that has emerged does not indicate complacency but is instead the result of strong understanding among parties in the government to ensure the people are not burdened by political polemics. “The people must not be troubled by prolonged polemics and differences in stance or views,” the deputy prime minister said in a special interview held in conjunction with Umno’s 80th anniversary recently. Ahmad Zahid, who is also BN chairman, said in the interest of the people, all parties in the Unity government have agreed to set aside differences and political considerations to ensure the effective implementation of every agenda outlined in the 15th general election (GE15) manifesto. He said the government gave priority to common ground in the manifestos of parties contesting GE15, particularly on issues related to cost of living, education and unemployment. “On education and unemployment, there is no disagreement between the competing parties,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development minister. He said 47% of the manifestos of parties in the Unity government have common elements, forming a strong foundation for cooperation. “Why should we be concerned about differences when we share the same goal? In addition, there are detailed issues that we must address. That is why we have the Inter-Party Consultative Council to resolve differences and ensure the manifesto is implemented with clear purpose.” He emphasised that all component parties in the Unity government, including DAP, uphold the four main pillars enshrined in the Federal Constitution. – Bernama the federal and state levels.” In GE14, PH led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad secured a historic victory over BN, ending the coalition’s hold on Putrajaya for the first time since independence. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically less than two years later following the Sheraton Move, which saw Bersatu, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah form a new governing alignment that triggered the collapse of the PH administration. BN later withdrew support from the government, sparking further instability and eventually leading to the 2022 general election, which resulted in a hung Parliament. The outcome paved the way for the formation of the Unity government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, bringing together long-time rivals from PH and BN in an unprecedented political arrangement. – BY HARITH KAMAL

unstable at times, but maybe that is part of a democracy that is still growing and adjusting.” She added that many Malaysians may have underestimated how long meaningful political and institutional reforms would take. “It is not perfect but I still believe things could improve slowly over time. People just cannot stop participating or stop caring altogether,” she added. Eight years after GE14 reshaped Malaysia’s political landscape, the country remains caught between expectation and reality, with hope, disappointment and cautious resilience continuing to define public sentiments.

among voters who once viewed GE14 as the beginning of a new political era, only to witness years of instability, shifting alliances and leadership changes. Yet among young Malaysians, there remains cautious optimism that democratic progress is still possible, even if slower and messier than expected. Amirah, 22, said the post-GE14 period has at least encouraged greater political awareness and public participation. “I still think things are better than before in some ways. People are more vocal now and there is more political awareness. “Yes, things are messy and

o ‘It feels like all parties are simply fighting for power instead of solving problems’

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

mount despite repeated changes in government. “I feel like nothing really changed for ordinary people. Prices keep rising and life is getting harder. “Of course, it is not entirely the fault of politicians, but politics keep changing while our lives stay the same. It feels like all parties are just fighting for power instead of solving problems.” His frustration reflects a growing sense of exhaustion

PETALING JAYA: Hope, frustration and political fatigue now shape how Malaysians view the nation’s democratic journey, eight years after the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018 ended six decades of single-coalition rule. While GE14 was once hailed as a turning point that would usher in sweeping reforms and greater accountability, many Malaysians today remain divided over whether the political upheaval delivered meaningful change or merely recycled the same power struggles under different banners. For some individuals, the biggest transformation has not been economic or institutional, but rather psychological. The following quoted individuals spoke on condition of anonymity. Johan, 33, said GE14 shattered the long-held belief that political power in Malaysia was untouchable. “For the first time, Malaysians realised that governments can actually be voted out. Before this, it felt permanent, almost impossible to change. “But after eight years, it sometimes still feels like the same political cycle with different faces and slogans. “The difference now is people are more aware, more critical and less blindly loyal.” However, others believe the constant political shifts since 2018 have brought little improvement to ordinary lives. Fauzan, 28, said public disillusionment has grown as economic pressures continue to

PROUD HERITAGE ... Labuan Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association members displaying traditional ethnic attire during the Labuan Federal Territory Kaamatan Festival at the Labuan Corporation Multipurpose Hall yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Shifting alliances erase moral high ground: NGO PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s political parties can no longer claim the moral high ground after years of shifting alliances that saw former rivals govern together, a civil society group said, as the country marks eight years since the 14th general election (GE14). or unworthy political partners,” it said in a statement on Saturday to commemorate GE14, which ended BN’s six-decade grip on federal power.

changes in government. It also called on all political actors to keep constitutional monarchs above politics, describing the institution as a crucial stabilising force amid a fractured political environment. “As democratisation deepens, all political parties, politicians, social groups and individuals must keep monarchs above politics.” Projek Sama stressed that parliamentary democracy must be strengthened rather than undermined, cautioning against narratives that seek to weaken elected institutions. “Our task as we enter the ninth year of democratisation is to neither blindly trust Parliament and state legislatures nor sweepingly dismiss them, but to make the legislative branch of our democracy trustworthy. “Regardless of which parties are in power, we must continue to demand parliamentary reforms at

decide which parties will emerge as federal and state government partners from multiple multilateral negotiations.” Projek Sama said while the collapse of the traditional two-coalition structure may confuse some voters, it also offers Malaysians broader political choices and opens the door for discussions on electoral reform. It added that political parties face increasing difficulty portraying rivals as enemies or morally inferior, given their past collaborations in various governments and coalitions. “Grandstanding by political parties and politicians is more and more often greeted with scepticism and distrust.” The NGO said despite years of political turbulence, Malaysia’s democratisation process has remained largely peaceful, with no large-scale violence despite intense political competition and repeated

Projek Sama said Malaysia has witnessed five prime ministers in eight years, alongside the rise of three national coalitions, two regional blocs and multiple smaller parties in Parliament, underscoring the growing volatility of the country’s political landscape. It said the fragmentation is likely to persist into the next general election, with multi-cornered contests and shifting post-election alliances becoming the new political norm. The group cautioned political parties against making rigid pre-election pledges rejecting cooperation with rivals, adding that such promises often unravel after polling day and further erode public trust. “Election outcomes would

Projek Sama emphasised that Malaysia’s post-GE14 political era has fundamentally altered the nation’s democratic landscape, dismantling the traditional two-coalition rivalry and replacing it with an increasingly fragmented multiparty system. The group said nearly all major political blocs, including Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional, had at different points served as both governing allies and electoral opponents, blurring ideological boundaries and reshaping public perception of political loyalties. “This takes away any moral high ground by any party in claiming that others have unholy