THE question now is: How does KEADILAN move forward from here? Alongside our championship of multiracialism and reform, our party’s ability to maintain intra-party unity and navigate inter-party cooperation has been key to its growth, propelling KEADILAN from its humble beginnings to its current standing.
GE16 will be upon us soon. We cannot and must not take things for granted. We must start working on our narrative, making our case for re-election – now.
While the country’s economy continues to recover and improve, it still faces uncertainty due to geopolitical polarisation, cost of living and the increasing threat of climate change.
The people of Malaysia need leadership that is engaged with their concerns and prioritises their interests.
Winning over the Malay vote
However, KEADILAN arguably faces challenges on several fronts.
The Malay vote remains crucial for any party that aims to govern the country. KEADILAN needs to solidify its gains in the southern and western parts of the peninsula (Melaka and Johor) while recovering the ground it has lost to Perikatan Nasional in Selangor and Penang to strengthen its position.
Regaining Kedah is also essential – a state that represents a spectrum of both urban and rural Malay voters. Additionally, establishing a stronger presence in Kelantan and Terengganu is vital.
Besides this, the sad fact is that a crucial constituency that KEADILAN has arguably lost is the “TikTok Generation” – young Malaysians, especially from the Malay community, who largely engage with content generated and dominated by the opposition on that platform.
We only need to see how many of their counterparts in the US and Europe who have swung to the far-right to understand the danger of not being able to “speak their language” and understand what is driving their political stances.
Historically, KEADILAN extended our reach in the Malay ground through our cooperation with PAS. Today, UMNO is part of the Unity Government, and we have been collaborating in state and by-elections since December 2022.
KEADILAN must also focus on reaching Malay voters directly and demonstrating the party’s relevance to the issues that speak to them. The party must continue to emphasise that it upholds the special Constitutional provisions for Malays and Bumiputera, as well as Islam’s status as the religion of the Federation.
However, KEADILAN must also recognise that it cannot be “more Malay” or “more Islamic” than the all-Malay parties. Instead, the focus should be on economic policies that benefit and empower all classes in society.
The party’s approach to improving wages – particularly for low-income public and private sector workers (who are predominantly Bumiputera) – and extending cash transfer programmes is a step in the right direction.
The significance of Sabah and Sarawak
Communicating KEADILAN’s relevance in Borneo is also crucial. The strong push for regionalism, particularly by parties in Sabah and Sarawak, has garnered significant support at the expense of national parties. This sentiment has been fuelled by long-standing grievances and past policies that were not sensitive to the unique needs of the regions.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been constantly present on the ground, meeting ordinary people in Sabah and Sarawak. In addition to this, the substantial progress made in the Malaysian Agreement 1963 negotiations under the Madani Government is also a positive, concrete part of our track record.
In today’s uncertain security, geopolitical, and environmental landscape, ensuring that Federal resources truly benefit ordinary Sabahans and Sarawakians is not only a powerful draw but simply the right thing to do.
The party also needs to support the rise of young politicians from Sabah and Sarawak, as there is a strong desire for fresh faces in these states.
Retaining KEADILAN’s multiracial middle class support
Amidst all this, it must be acknowledged that Malaysia’s multiracial middle class has been the bedrock of KEADILAN and Pakatan Harapan.
This group, while accepting the constitutional consensus, feels alienated as issues that have long affected Malaysians are now being politicised due to petty racial and religious battles fought by desperate politicians.
Their primary concerns are economic challenges and institutional reforms – issues that have always been at the core of the party’s mission.
The government’s targeted approach to electricity and fuel subsidies, along with a solid economic track record over the past two years, reflects an understanding of these concerns.
While several institutional reforms remain in the pipeline, the successful passage of two key constitutional amendments – on citizenship and the independence of Parliament – has been significant. The introduction of Prime Minister’s Question Time has also ensured that Anwar has likely been the most attentive Prime Minister to the House in many years.
There will always be a keenness for rapid political reform in Malaysia. But the key is to focus on making sure these reforms last rather than get rolled back due to sudden political shifts, and that is why the gradualist but consistent strategy is the most sustainable.
Malaysia, too, is a big tent
Bringing all these disparate groups together is a tall order. Often, their concerns and imperatives are different, if not in outright conflict with each other. But, like KEADILAN, Malaysia too is a big tent.
Ours must be a politics of addition, not subtraction; of principled pragmatism, rather than purity tests. Many will disdain our centrist approach – others will think we go too far. But the middle ground has always been the best way forward for Malaysia, and so it is with KEADILAN.
Rebuilding a coalition of moderate voters across the states and regions, while retaining the support of the urban and middle-classes, will be crucial for KEADILAN’s growth and expansion in the next election.
I am confident and will work to ensure that the next party election will produce the leadership that can provide this. Every member, regardless of race, religion, or region, has the right to vote and stand in party elections, thus influencing its policies.
We must realise that the anxieties, fears, aspirations, hopes, and dreams of our fellow Malaysians now rest on our shoulders. We cannot let them down and must always put our nation first.
One of KEADILAN’s greatest strengths is our status as a truly national and multiracial party. This is something that must be maintained at all costs.
We are fortunate to be the party of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Most importantly, KEADILAN is and must always be a party where Malaysians of all races and regions can unite under one banner. – April 11, 2025
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad is the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister and KEADILAN vice president. He is the author of Malaysian Son and Saving the Planet.