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PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has called for Malaysia to abandon identity and racial politics, instead prioritising economic performance and the well-being of all citizens regardless of ethnicity.
A former Pakatan Harapan MP has acknowledged that his coalition previously capitalised on identity-based political messaging to mobilise non-Malay voters, mirroring tactics now employed by Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional with Malay constituencies.
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Parti Amanah Negara has expressed frustration that Pakatan Harapan's campaign emphasizing government achievements failed to resonate with voters in the Negeri Sembilan election, as racial narratives dominated the contest.
Pakatan Harapan's secretary-general has cautioned the coalition against engaging in identity-based competition with rivals, arguing that such an approach creates a destructive zero-sum dynamic offering no substantive gain to citizens.
Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution has called for Malaysians to abandon divisive identity politics and instead judge governments on their ability to tackle poverty, drug abuse, and economic growth—nearly seven decades after independence.
PKR has signalled it will not engage in a competition with Umno and Bersatu over who is more Malay, or with Pas over Islamic credentials, instead urging voters to evaluate parties on their track record.
Senior Malaysian politicians' calls for race-based voting in Johor elections reveal a troubling disconnect from merit-based governance. The practice risks undermining democratic principles and citizen discernment across Southeast Asia.