PSM: PN must outline better governance before asking Anwar to step down

 

If Perikatan Nasional wants Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to step down, the party must first explain how it plans to govern better and solve existing problems faced by the rakyat, PSM said. 

In a statement today, PSM chairperson Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj also emphasised that the politics of “demonising” political opponents does nothing to improve the lives of ordinary citizens, and that such strategies only lead to further division and social disharmony.

“PSM did not encourage our members and supporters to attend the ‘Turun Anwar’ rally on July 26, 2025. This is not because we fully support the prime minister.

“In fact, we are also disappointed with his performance regarding the eradication of corruption, the abolition of anti-democratic laws, and his economic policies that prioritise the billionaire class and major corporations.

“For us, the political strategy of demonising a single leader as the source of all the country’s problems, and campaigning to topple them is not a strategy that benefits the common people or the nation of Malaysia,” he said.

Successive govts still ‘pampering capitalists’

Jeyakumar noted that for the past seven years, such strategies have done nothing to reduce the economic hardships faced by the rakyat, despite governments changing hands from the Najib Abdul Razak era to the present Anwar administration.

Jeyakumar also added that many of Malaysia’s problems stemmed from the actions of the nation’s wealthiest, lamenting that the government’s policy of “pampering capitalists” has not changed from the BN government until today.

He said that a large part of the economic problems is due to the Malaysian government’s policies of being too close to the biggest capital owners, both domestic and foreign, to the extent that the interests of ordinary people are set aside.

The former two-term Sungai Siput MP said that the main issues currently burdening the rakyat include the rising cost of living, youth unemployment, poverty amongst pensioners, shortage of specialists in government hospitals, and the government’s lack of funding for welfare initiatives. 

Jeyakumar said that, therefore, PN must first address how they intend to solve these problems if they were to govern the country.

He stressed that the tactic of demonising political opponents could also lead to further ethnic tensions, citing how PAS and Bersatu often portray DAP as “dangerous” to the Malay-Muslims.

“Similarly, there are also Pakatan Harapan leaders who often frighten non-Malays with the narrative that their rights and freedom will be restricted badly if PN becomes the government,” 

Jeyakumar said, adding that such narratives would only continue harbouring division and discontent.

‘Reject demonisation of opponents’

“Many of the problems faced by our people can be handled with policies that take into account the real causes of such problems.

“The time has come for the common people to reject the political game of demonising the opponent. This kind of political strategy only makes a fool of the people and destroys the harmony of the nation.

“Our people need an analysis based on reality, so that we can work together to formulate a strategy to overcome the problems faced now,” Jeyakumar added.

Last month, PSM denied rumours that they would be joining PN or any other coalition after a meeting with former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin, who is also PN chairperson, met with several opposition parties on July 18, to discuss several proposals and rally support for a broader political alliance.

Nevertheless, PSM reiterated that any decision to join a political coalition can only be made by its national congress, in line with the party’s tradition of democratic centralism. - Mkini