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KUALA LUMPUR – Despite having some familiar faces, the newly formed Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) is unlikely to be a formidable force in the next election, political observers said.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Prof Azmi Hassan said although some of the office bearers of PBM are currently parliamentarians or assemblymen, the party is not strong enough to contest on its own in the 15th general election (GE15).
“They are not yet robust because the elected representatives won their seats in GE14 while they were in different parties, such as DAP or PKR,” Azmi told The Vibes.
To rely on these ‘well-known’ figures is just not enough for PBM to be a force in the next election. They need stronger partners.”
PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil had called Larry Sng’s PBM “nothing but a congregation of traitors”.
Fahmi added that the people must avoid voting for the party at all costs come GE15, seeing that they “hopped” from other parties to join PBM.
During PBM’s general meeting last Saturday, former PKR man Sng was elected to helm the party as its first president.
Aside from the Julau MP, former PKR women chief and current Lembah Jaya assemblywoman Haniza Mohamed Talha was appointed as PBM’s deputy president.
Another former PKR member who made top ranks in the new party, Tebrau MP Steven Choong, was made senior vice-president I.
Other notable names revealed in a statement issued by Sng on Saturday were two ex-Bersatu assemblymen from Perak – A. Sivasubramaniam (Buntong) and Paul Yong (Tronoh).
Sivasubramaniam was made senior vice-president II, while Yong was elected as the party’s treasurer-general.
Malim Nawar assemblyman Leong Cheok Keng, who was sacked from DAP last January, was elected into the party’s supreme council, along with Ong Chin Wen and Lee Chin Cheh, both former PKR reps.
Azmi said it is improbable that PBM would work alongside PH, as its leaders were former members of the opposition coalition.
“In order for them (PBM) to have any chance at taking seats, they must partner up with Perikatan Nasional (PN) or Barisan Nasional (BN), which are currently well-known political entities,” Azmi said.
“Being a new party means it will be very difficult for PBM to go solo.”
Azmi also said it might be a long shot for PBM to join PN or BN, owing to trust issues due to “party-hoppers”.
But there is a chance they can work with Muda or Warisan, which requires partners, because the latter is looking to expand its wings nationally.
“For PBM to be a force to be reckoned with, it needs a strong partner first.”
‘Old wine in new bottle’
Political scientist Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said he “seriously doubts” PBM would be a formidable force in GE15.
Among other reasons, Azmil said this was because Malaysia’s first-past-the-post electoral system is not favourable to small parties.
“PBM doesn’t have name recognition, strong base, and party machinery compared to more established parties.
“PBM is mainly of old faces, which is not a good sign for reforms. (It is akin to) old wine in a new bottle.”
He said history has also shown that new splinter parties tend not to do well in general elections – another reason why the odds are against PBM.
“At least Muda has civil society activists and fresh young faces among its leaders, even though Syed Saddiq (Syed Abdul Rahman) is a familiar figure,” Azmil said. – The Vibes, January 13, 2022