Bersama: Will Rafizi Ramli's new party help PH retain power?

A new political party, Bersama, founded by Malaysian politician Rafizi Ramli, is poised to potentially aid Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in the upcoming elections, rather than undermine it, according to an analysis.

The hypothesis suggests that Bersama could bolster PH's prospects by addressing a key challenge: the declining support among Chinese voters. This disillusionment stems from PH's perceived failure to deliver on reform promises made over two decades, leading some supporters to feel the coalition is more talk than action. Political observers estimate that Chinese voter support for the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a key PH component, has dropped significantly from over 90 percent in the last general election to an estimated 50-60 percent.

Analysts also note that many non-Malay voters are hesitant to view Perikatan Nasional (PN), the main opposition coalition, as a viable alternative, largely due to negative perceptions of its dominant component, PAS. These negative views, built over years of political competition, portray PAS as a rigid party unwilling to embrace diversity. However, recent efforts by some non-Muslims who have interacted with or joined PAS are beginning to challenge this long-standing narrative, albeit slowly.

Bersama's entry into the political landscape is seen as a potential "third force" that could disrupt both PH and PN. As PN gains traction among voters disillusioned with PH, Bersama could siphon off protest votes, thereby indirectly benefiting PH. The analysis posits that while Bersama might draw some support from dissatisfied PH voters, its primary impact could be on fragmenting the protest vote that might otherwise go to PN, ultimately helping to maintain PH's grip on power.