Malaysia Deserves a Better Opposition, Says Liew Chin Tong
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Iskandar Puteri MP Liew Chin Tong has called for a stronger, more constructive opposition in Malaysia, suggesting that Perikatan Nasional (PN) risks becoming irrelevant without leadership renewal or a clear vision for the nation’s future.
Liew said that while PN holds a significant bloc in Parliament and has the potential to act as a credible alternative to the Unity Government, its current trajectory is uninspiring and disconnected from the Malaysian middle ground.
“Democracy in Malaysia deserves a better opposition,” Liew said.
“An opposition that does more than manufacture outrage or manipulate emotions — especially among Malays — but one that offers real, viable solutions for the people.”
The July 26 rally at Dataran Merdeka, led by Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, was intended to mobilise support and rejuvenate the PN base.
However, Liew noted that the event failed to draw beyond the coalition’s core supporters, largely from PAS, highlighting its limited reach and appeal.
He argued that Bersatu’s rise in the 2022 general election was largely due to vote-splitting and anti-Barisan Nasional sentiment, rather than genuine mass support and pointed to Bersatu’s founding in 2016 by Muhyiddin and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as a response to Najib Razak’s alleged kleptocracy, and how subsequent political manoeuvring — including the Sheraton Move — fractured the party’s identity and eroded its public credibility.
PAS and the Struggle for the Middle Ground
Touching on PAS’s role within PN, Liew highlighted the dilemma faced by leaders such as Terengganu Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Samsuri Mokhtar, who has a broader appeal but operates within a party still anchored to its 1982 theological orthodoxy.
“The party’s hardline stance, cemented since the departure of its progressives in 2015, remains a major obstacle to gaining middle-ground and multi-ethnic support,” he said.
With Tan Sri Hadi Awang signalling his intent to remain PAS president, Liew suggested any move toward moderation or reform within the party may be delayed further.
Time for a Constructive Opposition
Liew added that PN could still serve the country better by engaging constructively with the government through parliamentary mechanisms, rather than relying solely on populist rhetoric.
He cited DAP’s approach in the aftermath of the 2020 Sheraton coup as an example of responsible opposition, when current Secretary-General Anthony Loke proposed stabilising politics through a Confidence and Supply Agreement.
“That spirit of national interest and democratic responsibility should guide all parties, including the opposition. A fractured and reactive opposition does no service to our democracy,” Liew said.
He concluded by stressing that Malaysians are watching and evaluating all sides — not just the government — and will continue to expect maturity, unity, and clarity from those seeking to lead.
