Syed Arabi Idid of International Islamic University Malaysia said coalitions are common in Malaysian politics because no single party can govern on its own, and Perikatan Nasional understands it cannot go far unless it reaches beyond its Malay-majority support base.
“The question is how well this outreach will be received by non-Malays,” he told FMT.
IPR was announced on Oct 14, bringing together leaders from Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Pejuang, Putra, Berjasa, Muda, the Malaysian Advancement Party, the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party, and Urimai.
A national congress is planned for early next year on “saving Malaysia”, where leaders will outline the informal coalition’s vision and common positions on governance, cost of living, and national unity.
Pejuang leader Mukhriz Mahathir called the alliance “a good move” to unite diverse opposition voices and offer a broader representation of Malaysian society.
“We may differ on some issues, but we have a common stand. The idea is to form a loose pact that represents all strata of society, rural and urban and of all ethnic groups.
“We can complement each other. Since we (Pejuang) don’t have representation in Parliament, we can provide input to opposition MPs to make the opposition voice stronger,” he told FMT.
Urimai president P Ramasamy also said IPR is about opposition voices coming together to discuss issues based on “common denominators”, including the cost of living and the Urban Renewal Bill, among others.
He said PN has realised it needs to expand its non-Malay voter base and counter dissatisfaction among minority communities, particularly Indians against the government.
However, Syed Arabi said IPR could face the same difficulties that once strained Pakatan Rakyat, when DAP’s alliance with PAS strengthened the Islamist party but weakened DAP and alienated some Chinese supporters.
“The same question arises again,” he said, adding IPR will also need to be on the lookout for a response from Pakatan Harapan.
“PH will appear more willing to listen to Indian voices, That could be part of its counter-strategy to woo (disgruntled) Indians,” he said.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also warned that the real test for IPR would be when seats are allocated to the member parties for the next general election. “They must ensure they do not go against each other,” he told FMT.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said however that the new platform is not meant to bind parties under a formal coalition, but to coordinate positions on key issues.
“It is a platform for coordination on national issues, particularly those involving the people such as the rising cost of living and the impact of certain bills,” he told FMT.
He said PAS, in particular, sees the importance of all opposition parties having a platform to express a joint position.