Tawfik said Muda risks compromising its ideals by remaining in the loose coalition announced by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin earlier this week — which Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) declined to join, citing concerns over the ethnic-based rhetoric relied on by several member parties.
“If Muda wants to look to the future, it should withdraw. As PSM rightly pointed out, the coalition appears race-based, with each party pursuing its own agenda. Their only shared goal seems to be toppling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — which makes it more personal than principled,” he told FMT.
“Race-based parties were necessary during independence, when the common enemy was the British. At the time, they served to show that different races opposed colonialism, which justified their formation along racial lines.
“But more than 60 years after independence, we should focus on nation-building and integration. Non-racial parties should take the lead in a multi-racial country. I think Muda should stick to its young, idealistic vision and distance itself from opportunistic, race-based parties.”
Tawfik, a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants, said opposition parties must rise above identity politics to remain credible.
He added that the opposition should focus on issues, rather than the personalities leading the government.
On Monday, it was reported that 11 opposition parties had agreed to form a loose coalition aimed at holding the government accountable and pressing Anwar on what they claimed were unfulfilled reform pledges.
Muhyiddin said the coalition would comprise Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), Pejuang, Putra, Berjasa, Urimai, the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP), the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman) and Muda.
Muda will still speak out
Penang Muda information chief Danial Abdul Majeed clarified that the coalition was not a formal alliance, but a collaborative platform aimed at serving the people. He stressed that the party would remain firm in voicing its concerns.
“As long as the values we share are genuinely directed towards improving the lives of the rakyat, particularly in areas such as the economy, education and social well-being, then there is room for us to cooperate,” he said.
He explained that the cooperation among opposition parties was driven by a shared commitment to prioritise the people’s interests. While acknowledging that Muda did not share every value with the other parties, Danial said there were important areas of common ground.
“On those issues, we can work together, much like the collaboration seen between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional,” he added.
Danial also reiterated that Muda would never compromise on its principles, adding that it would continue to voice out its concerns on pressing issues in line with its constitution and core principles.