How will Bersama navigate the reality of Malay political dominance?

Can Parti Bersama Malaysia, the party co-founded by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahamd, genuinely set itself apart from existing multiracial parties like PKR and DAP, or the other race-based parties?

The question is particularly true for core issues affecting non-Malays such as meritocracy, equality, unfair policies, and religious balance, while navigating the reality of Malay political dominance – a reality one cannot avoid.

Bersama’s leadership has explicitly stated that the party is designed as a political start-up rather than a traditional party, aiming to break from the compromises and entrenched structures of existing parties.

Its leader Rafizi Ramli has drafted a new constitution that would enshrine merit and competence as requirements for office-bearers, a clear departure from the faction-based, seniority-driven systems seen in Malaysian political parties.

The party is also targeting 70% of its election candidates to be under the age of 50 and prioritising female representation across all ethnic communities, with candidate selection based on suitability rather than ethnicity.

This suggests a structural attempt to institutionalise meritocracy, not just pay lip service to it. But one must realise that this practice is only within the party leadership and selection method right now.

However, many are waiting for Bersama to take a definitive stand on policies that some non-Malays claim have disenfranchised them. I know this may be too early for the fledgling party to declare its stance, but this is what will eventually matter when Malaysians decide whether to support it.

Early membership data shows that 46% of Bersama’s first 20,000 members were previously unaffiliated with any party, and only 1.3% came from DAP.

This indicates that Bersama is drawing from a pool of politically disenfranchised voters, especially non-Malays who feel existing race-based or multiracial parties have failed them.

The party’s other leader, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, has also stated that Bersama wants to operate like a “budget airline” competing against established players, implying a lean, efficient, and policy-driven approach.

However, based on available information, the core concern remains unresolved – whether Bersama can handle issues like meritocracy, equality, and unfair policies while respecting the Malay majority’s attachment to quotas and supremacy

To every Malaysian, those matters are what count – whether Rafizi and company like it or not.

The party’s rhetoric emphasises merit and competence, but it has not yet detailed how it would reconcile these principles with existing affirmative action policies or address religious balance.

Rafizi has acknowledged that some seats are more suitable for Malay candidates while others suit Chinese or Indian candidates, suggesting a pragmatic, rather than purely ideological, approach to ethnic representation.

So in its first electoral attempt, Bersama has already started talking about race. Will there be much difference between Bersama  from the practices and considerations of existing political parties that are race-based?

Bersama is attempting to set itself apart from PKR and DAP by building a merit-based, digitally coordinated party that prioritises candidate competence over ethnic or factional loyalty

But the party has not yet articulated a clear policy framework on how it would address core non-Malay concerns.

While its structural reforms are promising, there remains an open question whether Bersama can translate these into tangible change on the ground, especially given the entrenched political realities of Malay supremacy. Only time and electoral performance will answer this question.

The party’s performance in the coming state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan could be an indicator but its performance may not provide a one-size-fits-all answer, as voters in general elections look for other factors before casting their ballots.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.