.png)
FORMER PKR Deputy President Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad today officially announced their takeover of Parti Bersama Malaysia, signalling a dramatic political realignment nearly a year after both leaders exited the federal Cabinet and increasingly appeared sidelined within PKR.
The announcement was made at the PJ Performing Arts Centre during a symbolic handover ceremony that formally transferred leadership of the little-known political party to the two former PKR senior leaders.
Parti Bersama Malaysia founder and president Tan Gin Theam presented Rafizi and Nik Nazmi with a mock party registration certificate to mark the transition, effectively positioning the party as their new political platform ahead of an increasingly volatile electoral cycle.
The development is expected to intensify speculation over widening ideological and strategic divisions within PKR, particularly as Pakatan Harapan leaders simultaneously gathered in Johor Bahru for the coalition’s first national convention since 2022.
Political observers view the timing of the announcement as especially significant, coming at a moment when Pakatan Harapan is attempting to project unity and consolidate grassroots machinery ahead of looming state elections and the 16th General Election.
Rafizi, previously regarded as one of PKR’s chief strategists and among the coalition’s most influential reformist voices, had faced growing perceptions of political marginalisation following shifts within party leadership and internal coalition dynamics.
Nik Nazmi had similarly become the subject of speculation over his future role within PKR after his reduced prominence in party decision-making and national political positioning over the past year.
Today’s move effectively ends weeks of speculation surrounding whether the pair would remain within PKR’s internal structure or pursue an independent political path outside the party hierarchy.
Parti Bersama Malaysia, also known as the Malaysian United Party (MUP), was officially registered on December 2, 2016, in Penang, but had remained largely obscure within mainstream national politics until the takeover announcement.
The emergence of the party under Rafizi and Nik Nazmi is likely to trigger scrutiny over whether it could evolve into a broader reformist platform capable of attracting disillusioned PKR supporters, younger urban voters, and factions dissatisfied with existing coalition arrangements.
The move also raises fresh questions about whether Malaysia’s reform-oriented political bloc could face further fragmentation ahead of GE16, particularly as both government and opposition coalitions enter an increasingly competitive phase of political consolidation.
Alliance declares ‘back to basics’ political reset as disillusionment with PH deepens
In his speech, the former PKR vice-president (Nik Nazmi) has warned that Malaysia’s reform movement risks collapsing under the weight of political fatigue, broken promises and entrenched elite control.
Nik Nazmi delivered a sweeping critique of Malaysia’s political system, stating that both government and opposition coalitions had become trapped in endless cycles of power struggles, compromise, and instability, while ordinary Malaysians continued to face rising living costs, stagnant wages, and declining confidence in politics.
He warned that younger Malaysians increasingly feel alienated from a political system dominated by ageing leaders and unfulfilled reform promises, despite youths making up nearly half the country’s population.
“Day after day, struggles for power and positions continue to override the interests of the people,” he said.
Nik Nazmi said many former Pakatan Harapan supporters now question whether the coalition still upholds the reformist principles that inspired the historic 2018 political transition, accusing PH of increasingly relying on fear-based narratives rather than offering hope and structural change.
He also reflected on the sacrifices made by ordinary Malaysians during the Reformasi movement and the 2018 general election, arguing that many supporters now feel deeply disappointed by the lack of meaningful institutional reforms.
Reiterating the “back to basics” political reset, Nik Nazmi said politics must once again be rooted in integrity, public service and genuine conviction rather than personal ambition and elite interests.
The event also formally confirmed the takeover of Parti Bersama Malaysia by Nik Nazmi and Rafizi, marking one of the most significant political realignments ahead of the 16th General Election amid growing speculation over fractures within PKR and wider dissatisfaction within Malaysia’s reformist bloc.
Parti Bersama Malaysia (PBM), also known as the Malaysian United Party (MUP), had remained largely on the fringes of Malaysian politics since its formation in Penang on December 2, 2016, with the party previously recording only marginal electoral performances before the recent takeover.
The party’s founder and president, Tan Gin Theam, contested both parliamentary and state seats during the 14th General Election in 2018 but failed to gain significant voter support.
Berita Harian cited that Tan contested the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat against DAP-Pakatan Harapan candidate Wong Hon Wai and Gerakan-Barisan Nasional candidate Andy Yong Kim Seng.
He lost his deposit after securing only 339 votes, representing 0.6 per cent of the total vote share. Wong won decisively with 50,049 votes or 83.8 per cent, while Andy Yong received 9,318 votes, amounting to 15.6 per cent.
Tan also stood in the Air Putih state constituency during the same election but again failed to retain his deposit after obtaining just 87 votes, equivalent to 0.8 per cent of ballots cast.
The seat was won comfortably by DAP-Pakatan Harapan chairman Lim Guan Eng with 9,362 votes or 85.6 per cent. MCA-Barisan Nasional candidate Tang Heap Seng secured 1,404 votes, while Parti Cinta Malaysia candidate Manikandan Ramayah obtained 83 votes. - May 17, 2026
