Bersatu Supreme Council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the party cannot continue to rely on protest votes as that era has ended. “Instead, we must position Bersatu as a solution-oriented, visionary, and principled party,” he said in a statement.

He also said that the party has great potential to advance and assume power in Putrajaya and in several states.

He was confident that the party’s newly launched ideology document, based on the five principles of inclusivity, moderation, democracy, integrity, and compassion, will establish Bersatu as a centre-right political platform for all Malaysians.

This document should be thoroughly disseminated and embraced at all levels of the party, he said.

Wan Saiful, who is MP for Tasek Gelugor, said the party has much work to do in preparation for the coming elections to Parliament and state assemblies. The party must not only strengthen its electoral machinery but also boost cadre training, outreach, and party management.

Bersatu had previously been criticised for its reliance on protest votes from Umno supporters. Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan stated that the protest vote was significant at the 2022 general election and 2023 state assembly elections, but Bersatu had not evolved since then.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan has also stated that Bersatu would lose out if it continued to rely on Umno protest votes as Umno was regaining strength and support from Malay voters.

Another analyst, Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, said Bersatu should consider becoming a Malay-dominated multicultural party like PKR to remain relevant, with fresh ideas and young leaders, “not recycled failed Umno grassroots leaders”.