19/05/2026

TUESDAY | MAY 19, 2026

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Bersama testing if voters ready to embrace third force

Party seeks legal advice on enforcing RM10m bond JOHOR BAHRU: PKR is seeking legal advice on enforcing a RM10 million bond signed by former deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and former vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, following their decision to vacate their parliamentary seats and leave the party. PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said both remain bound by the agreement, adding that the party has evidence suggesting that they have already joined Parti Bersama Malaysia before formally vacating their seats, a sequence she said could carry legal implications. “They are claiming that the Anti-Hopping Act 2022 does not apply. But I have proof that they joined the other party, with a timestamp dated May 17 on the website,” Fuziah told reporters on the sidelines of the National Consumer Policy 2.0 Advocacy Programme in Johor Bahru. “If we follow the party constitution, they defected on Sunday, before they vacated their seats on Monday.” She said the claim is based on information from Bersama’s official website, which indicated the two had become members a day before relinquishing their seats for Pandan and Setiawangsa respectively. If the timeline is upheld, PKR argues that it could mean the pair joined a rival party while still serving as MPs under the PKR banner, a situation Fuziah suggested could trigger the Act, regardless of their subsequent resignations. PKR confirmed that the matter will be raised at the party’s political bureau meeting today. Rafizi rejected claims that he or Nik Nazmi are liable under the bond. He said the agreement applies only when a PKR MP defects to another party without first vacating the seat won under the party’s ticket. He also said since they vacated their seats before formally leaving PKR, the conditions triggering the bond were not met and the Act does not apply to their case. surmised that the outcome will depend on the interaction between constitutional procedure, political strategy and institutional discretion, and could determine whether the episode becomes a landmark test of Article 49A or a carefully managed political transition. On Sunday, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi declared that they have vacated their seats before announcing their move to join Bersama. It was reported yesterday that PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh said both former members are still bound by a RM10 million party bond, despite the announcement that they have vacated their parliamentary seats before officially leaving the party. She also said there is evidence that they have already joined Bersama, adding that the party’s website shows a registration timestamp dated May 17. – By Harith Kamal Ű BY THE SUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

However, she added that Rafizi and Nik Nazmi may command greater credibility than Muda due to their experience as national-level politicians. Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said Bersama’s key challenge is proving it can deliver policy solutions rather than relying on anti-establishment rhetoric. “When he promises that Bersama will provide solutions, I think there is already some negative perception there,” he said, referring to Rafizi’s long-running “Raja Formula” reputation in Malaysian politics. “Rafizi alone, Nik Nazmi alone and a few other disgruntled PKR politicians are just not enough to attract the younger generation.” He argued that if Bersama is to become electorally viable, it may ultimately require cooperation with a larger established coalition. “It seems the long and short of it is that Bersama needs to work with an established political party,” he said, adding that it remains unclear which party would be the most suitable strategic partner at this stage.

o Party unlikely to instantly emerge as major bloc but could have electoral impact: Analyst

PETALING Seri Rafizi Ramli’s bid to lead Parti Bersama Malaysia is emerging as a major early test of whether Malaysian voters are prepared to embrace a credible “third force” or whether the new platform will end up fragmenting the reformist bloc ahead of the next general election. Positioning itself as an alternative to Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), Bersama is entering the political arena on a platform of generational change, reformist politics and a rejection of what Rafizi has described as Malaysia’s “rotation game” of coalition survival. But political analysts say its emergence raises a deeper question of whether Malaysia is truly ready for a viable third force or whether Bersama will split the reformist vote and inadvertently strengthen rival coalitions. Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Datuk Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Bersama is unlikely to immediately emerge as a major third bloc capable of replacing PH, BN or PN but added that it could still have a decisive electoral impact. “In a first-past-the-post electoral system, a small party does not need to win many seats in order to have a major impact. “It is enough to take between 5% and 10% of votes in certain constituencies to cause PH, BN or PN to lose seats.” Awang Azman said Rafizi’s reformist and technocratic branding, together with Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s image as an urban progressive leader, could resonate with disillusioned urban and younger voters, especially in mixed constituencies. However, he cautioned that personality appeal alone would not be sufficient to build a sustainable national political force. He noted that Bersama could become a serious challenge to PKR if it succeeds in drawing reformist youth groups, urban professionals JAYA: Datuk

She added that Muda eventually worked with PH during the 2022 general election to secure seats. “If votes are split, and now BN and PH also want to fight each other, PN would be the beneficiary.” However, she emphasised that Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have the democratic right to challenge PH despite the political cost. She cautioned against viewing youth voters as a single ideological bloc, noting that younger Malaysians remain politically fragmented. Syaza said previous youth-focused movements such as Muda struggled to expand beyond their core base, adding that while it is positive to broaden political choice, it would be misleading to assume a uniform youth political direction. “Maybe urban educated youth would respond positively to Bersama’s messaging, but how many are they in the larger scheme?”

and disillusioned PH supporters. “That challenge may down immediately, but it could weaken PKR’s moral dominance as the party of reform.” On PKR’s position, Awang Azman said the development is not an immediate existential threat but a clear warning that the party must address internal dynamics, reformist space and youth confidence in the post-Anwar leadership era. International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst and Iseas–Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Assoc Prof Dr Syaza Shukri said the most immediate risk from Bersama’s emergence is vote fragmentation in PH-held urban constituencies. “Realistically, it would be like the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) as a third force, splitting votes especially in urban PH-held areas.” not necessarily bring PKR

HEALTHY HANDOUTS ... Participants of the We Run Bintong l eisure run receiving free vegetables at one of the checkpoints in conjunction with the Bintong DUN Unity Carnival in Sungai Siran, Abi in Kangar yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Planned PKR exit raises questions on anti-hopping law PETALING JAYA: The planned political exit of former Economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from PKR, alongside their reported move to vacate their parliamentary seats before joining or taking over Parti Bersama Malaysia, has raised fresh constitutional questions over Malaysia’s anti-hopping provisions under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution. Awang Azman explained that under Article 49A, an MP elected under a political party who later resigns from that party may trigger the vacancy of their seat. However, he said the vacancy is not automatic and must be confirmed by the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat upon receipt of written notification. confirmed by the speaker after receiving written notice.” Awang Azman said the speaker’s role is pivotal as parliamentary procedure, rather than political announcements, determines whether a seat is officially vacated. resignation or a structured political arrangement to manage the effect of Article 49A.” He stressed that the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat holds the decisive institutional authority in confirming whether a casual vacancy exists and whether the Election Commission must be notified.

He said the sequence of resignation from Parliament, leaving the party and joining a new political outfit is crucial in determining whether the move constitutes a clean resignation or a calculated strategy to navigate the anti-hopping law. “On the argument that they are vacating their seats first before leaving PKR to avoid anti-hopping consequences, I see it as a political move to reduce the perception of party hopping, but it does not settle all legal questions. “If these steps happen almost simultaneously, it still raises questions about whether it is a transparent

He emphasised that the case could become an important constitutional precedent in interpreting Malaysia’s anti-hopping law, particularly in situations in which resignation and party switching occur in close succession. However, the legal position is further complicated by provisions that have been interpreted to exempt by-elections for vacancies occurring within three years of the first sitting of Parliament, adding another layer of uncertainty. Ultimately, Awang Azman

He added that the speaker has up to 21 days to decide on the vacancy and notify the Election Commission, which would then trigger a by-election within 60 days of receiving official notice. “Under Article 49A, in principle, if an MP is elected under a party ticket and later leaves the party, the seat may become vacant. “The law states that an MP ceases to be a member of the House and the seat becomes vacant when they resign or are no longer a party member. “However, this must still be

Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Datuk Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the matter must be examined on two levels, namely constitutional law and electoral politics, stressing that the legal process is more complex than public perception. He said based on current reports, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have announced plans to vacate their parliamentary seats and leave PKR before joining a new party they are set to take over.