SHAH ALAM - The 16th General Election (GE16) is expected to take shape as an open political contest, with parties likely pursuing independent strategies as they prepare for what is seen as an increasingly fragmented political landscape.
Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said the emerging scenario reflects shifting alliances, particularly with Umno no longer expected to act as a secondary partner to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the coming election.
He said Umno’s core objective has always been to regain control of the federal government rather than function as a supporting force for other coalitions.
“Umno does not exist to be a political accessory to others. Umno exists to control the government. After GE15, Umno suffered a heavy defeat.
“For survival, they joined the government with PH. That was a temporary arrangement to form a government and stabilise the country. But that is not a political marriage until death,” Rafizi said in a Facebook posting on Tuesday.
He added that attempts to build a political strategy based on bringing all parties under one direction contain structural weaknesses, as each political bloc ultimately prioritises its own survival and agenda.
“If Umno wants to follow PH’s instructions, it might as well join PKR.
“PH, Barisan Nasional (BN), PN (Perikatan Nasional), state-based parties and new parties will all chart their own paths,” he said.
Rafizi, who is also a former Pandan Member of Parliament (MP), said the political party he is now part of, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), has been established in anticipation of this evolving political environment.