New party's entry could disrupt votes, warns Malaysian official

A Malaysian political party official has warned that the entry of a new party, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), into upcoming elections could potentially disrupt vote counts, especially for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. Abbas Azmi, Communications Director for Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Selangor, suggested that if Bersama garners a small number of votes without winning any seats, it could siphon support away from other parties.

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If Parti Bersama participates and gains some support but not enough to win, it could disrupt the support or votes of other parties, especially PH.

Azmi emphasized that the primary objective of any party contesting in an election should be to win and form a government, not merely to participate independently. He pointed to Malaysia's political history, noting that no single party has been able to form a government without strategic alliances within a coalition. "If Parti Bersama participates and gains some support but not enough to win, it could disrupt the support or votes of other parties, especially PH," Azmi stated.

He further argued that contesting alone not only guarantees defeat but also interferes with the electoral outcomes for any coalition, be it PH, Barisan Nasional (BN), or Perikatan Nasional (PN). Azmi acknowledged that Malaysia's democratic system allows any party to contest but stressed the need for realistic strategies to achieve the goal of forming a government. He believes that parties contesting independently offer no advantage and face a very high probability of failure, ultimately missing their objectives.

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The primary objective of any party contesting in an election should be to win and form a government, not merely to participate independently.

For the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, Azmi stressed that every party aims to win and gain public support. He urged any party, including Bersama, to consider strategies for joining a political coalition. This, he believes, would better align with the aspirations of the Malaysian people and ensure political stability, which is essential for the economic progress of the states and the nation.

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Contesting alone not only guarantees defeat but also interferes with the electoral outcomes for any coalition, be it PH, Barisan Nasional (BN), or Perikatan Nasional (PN).