JOHOR BAHRU - Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has hit back at claims that the party is splitting votes ahead of the Johor state election, arguing that Malay, Chinese and Indian support was already fragmented well before Bersama entered the race.
Speaking at the candidate announcement, the former Pandan Member of Parliament said critics from Malay-based parties had accused Bersama of splitting the Malay vote, while others claimed it would divide non-Malay support and indirectly benefit Umno or Pas.
"If people ask why we need another political party when there are already so many, the answer is simple.
"Just look around you, look at the television. We can all see that the votes of Malays, Chinese and Indians have already been split," he said.
Rafizi argued that Bersama was formed to give Malaysians disillusioned with existing parties a fresh alternative, offering a platform focused on the people rather than political manoeuvring.
Bersama was formed earlier this year after Rafizi and former Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad quit PKR to take over the party, vacating their parliamentary seats in the process.
The party is contesting 15 seats in Johor for the first time, having unveiled its full line-up of candidates on Friday night in Johor Bahru ahead of polling on July 11.