Established parties trade on fear to cling to power, Bersama co-leader says
Established parties rely on scare tactics rather than policy to win votes, Bersama co-leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said on Tuesday.
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 16, 2026 at 7:31 PM · AI-assisted report
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PENANG, 17 AUGUST 2026 —
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Established parties rely on scare tactics rather than policy to win votes, Bersama co-leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said on Tuesday.
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At a Penang event, Nik Nazmi accused the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and United Malays National Organisation (Umno) of using “ghost stories” about rival victories to frighten voters. DAP warns that a Bersama vote risks handing PAS or Umno the federal government, while Umno tells Malays that voting against it would let DAP seize control, he said.
Bersama co-leader Rafizi Ramli said major parties substitute race-based appeals for bread-and-butter issues. He argued DAP’s pitch to non-Malay voters—positioning itself as the “last line of defence” and the “only one that dared to speak for the non-Malays”—deepens ethnic polarisation.
Nik Nazmi said Bersama would reject that strategy and build support over five to seven years. He pointed to Penang’s 2008 election, when voters backed Pakatan Rakyat over Barisan Nasional, as proof that change is possible.
“We want power, but we want it the right way,” he said.
Related: Penang