Speaking to FMT about the recent departure of prominent members from the party, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said PPBM was going through its early maturing stage.
He added that the party’s problems needed also to be seen in the context of its being a splinter of Umno.
“Many members, including founding members, feel a sense of insecurity,” he said. “They still feel bonded to the Umno hegemony. Their long dependence on Umno makes them uncomfortable being in another party. They find themselves facing numerous challenges and tests in setting up a new party.
“Selflessness, patience and loyalty are constantly tested by internal and external pressures.”
Anina Saadudin, who at one time led PPBM’s women’s wing, and Hamidah Osman, one of the party’s vice-presidents, both announced their resignation last Saturday.
Anina complained that she had been mistreated by party leaders. She said she was removed from the party leaders’ WhatsApp chat group without notice and that she was not invited to PPBM’s first anniversary celebration on Sept 9.
Hamidah’s resignation came three days after her sister Hamizura posted allegedly racist comments on Facebook that were condemned by several leaders of PPBM and other parties in Pakatan Harapan.
On Sept 13, Hamizura wrote on Facebook that in their zeal to topple Barisan Nasional, the Malays should not allow the Chinese to “step” on them.
Awang Azman said the troubles plaguing PPBM reminded him of a similar situation in PKR when it was still a new party. He mentioned the departure of prominent figures like Lokman Adam, Ezam Mohd Noor, Ruslan Kassim and Marina Yussuf as well as Chandra Muzaffar, whom he described as an “important thinker” in PKR.
“But the party became more mature and stronger after that,” he said. “After they left PKR, there was some kind of clean-up in the party. Only those who would truly struggle for the party would stay loyal.”
Another analyst, Shamsul Bari, had a different view. He described PPBM as a “fragile, makeshift party made up of people with grievances and different agendas”.
“The party is full of egoistic individuals,” he said. “Everyone wants to feel important. It is easy for them to sulk. What has happened is no surprise.”
He said the future looked bleak for PPBM because it was saddled with too many unsettled internal issues as well as disagreements with other parties in Pakatan Harapan.