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SHAH ALAM - Suffering a total wipeout across all seven seats it contested in the Melaka state election, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has been told it has "little choice" but to swallow its pride and partner with long-time rival Pakatan Harapan (PH) if it hopes to survive, according to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali.
The development comes in the wake of the 16th Melaka state election, in which Bersatu, contesting under its own logo amid internal turmoil and party splintering, failed to secure a single seat and lost its deposits in five of the seven constituencies contested.
"Bersatu’s crushing defeat signals an uncertain future for a party already plagued by internal divisions.
“Moving forward, it has little choice but to collaborate with a larger coalition like Pakatan Harapan while simultaneously rebuilding and strengthening its grassroots," Dr Mazlan told Sinar.
The prospect of Bersatu reuniting with PH, a coalition it famously walked out on during the 2020 Sheraton Move, marks one of the most contentious takeaways from the polls, particularly as Bersatu's defeat was compounded by defections to the newly formed splinter party Wawasan and resistance from PH components like DAP.
Bersatu was not alone in its electoral misery, as newcomer Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), founded by former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, also suffered a complete shutout across all 16 seats it contested in Melaka, mirroring its earlier wipeout in Johor.
"Parti Bersama lost every seat it contested in Melaka, much like it did previously in Johor.
“This raises questions about the party’s direction and future in the Malaysian political landscape,” Mazlan said, adding that the fledgling party must also abandon its ambitions of going it alone.
"I believe Bersama needs to align itself with another coalition for instance, by joining forces with Parti Muda, which shares similar characteristics.
“Such an alliance could consolidate support and better position the party to mount a stronger challenge in the future," he added.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) information warfare, security and political analyst Dr Nirwandy Mat Noordin echoed the view that smaller or splintered parties face an uphill battle against Malaysia's deeply entrenched political heavyweights.
He explained that even when voters voice frustration online, moderate voter turnout staying below the 80 to 90 per cent threshold tends to cement the dominance of legacy coalitions such as Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH, alongside established parties like Umno, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Pas.
He noted that with federal stability and a stronger ringgit weighing heavily on voters' minds, the electorate remains hesitant to gamble on unproved outfits or fractured parties lacking deep grassroots machinery.
"It would be quite a risky factor for voters to place the country in the hands of non-partisan groups or parties that have yet to prove their capability," Nirwandy added, stressing that newer entrants must build credibility through positive manifestos and microeconomic solutions rather than merely attacking rivals.
In Malay-majority states such as Melaka, where Malays make up roughly 70 per cent of the electorate across 23 of the 28 constituencies, Mazlan pointed out that traditional political loyalties remain a formidable barrier for newer entrants like Bersama.
"This suggests that the mindset of the majority in Melaka remains traditional; they believe that only Umno and Pas are capable of championing the interests of the Malays and the Islamic faith, even though the track records of both parties are not particularly stellar," he said, noting that Bersama's leadership roots in PH make it harder for its ideals to resonate with the Malay heartland.
Citing the historical struggles of earlier offshoot parties such as Putra and Pejuang, Mazlan warned that Bersama still faces a long and arduous road before it can realistically challenge giants like PH, BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
"If Parti Bersama emerges victorious in the democratic process, it will demonstrate that the party has both potential and a promising future.
“However, based on the two elections it has contested so far, success still appears distant and fraught with challenges," he said.
On the question of why independent candidates continue to enter the fray despite facing near-zero odds of victory, the two analysts offered sharply contrasting views.
Mazlan dismissed most independent bids as opportunistic gambles, stating that such candidates are "simply trying their luck driven either by the disappointment of not being fielded by their original party or by the hope of seizing an opportunity, such as stepping in for a major party if one of its candidates has their nomination voided."
Nirwandy, however, viewed independent participation as a healthy pillar of democratic maturity that forces major coalitions to debate manifestos and remain accountable to the public.
"We do need more independent candidates to run in elections, to argue, to debate on manifestos and to become part of the balancing democratisation process for stability and maturity in the country," he said, adding that credible independents could eventually sway fence-sitters if voter participation surges past 90 per cent.
