Pundits pour cold water on PBM’s West Malaysia plans with Ronnie Liu

 PBM is seen as a 'one-man show' centred on Larry Sng, which would be better off joining forces with Bersama and others.

Former Selangor DAP strongman Ronnie Liu announced on Sunday that he had joined Sarawak-based Parti Bangsa Malaysia, headed by Larry Sng.

PETALING JAYA:

Analysts have poured cold water on plans by Sarawak-based Parti Bangsa Malaysia to expand its presence in West Malaysia which they said would have little impact, even with former DAP veteran Ronnie Liu leading the charge.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Liu’s presence would not make much of a difference as PBM was more synonymous with Sarawak, while James Chin of University of Tasmania said the party was merely a “one-man show” centred on its president, Larry Sng.

Azmi said PBM’s failed Sabah venture in the 2025 state election showed that Sng’s party would continue to struggle to make a name for itself in the vastly different political environment of West Malaysia.

“Even Warisan, which is more well known, faced a very difficult time spreading its wings to the peninsula. And even Zuraida Kamaruddin was not successful (for PBM). So I don’t think it’s viable, even for a well-known figure like Liu,” Azmi told FMT.

Zuraida, a former PKR vice-president, failed to retain the Ampang parliamentary seat for a fourth term after contesting under PBM in the 2022 general election, even losing her deposit.

Liu announced his formal entry into PBM on Sunday, with the task of building up the party’s presence and recruiting new members in West Malaysia.

Chin said PBM had always only revolved around Sng, the son of former Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak deputy president Sng Chee Hua, and could not be taken seriously on its own. Chin also scoffed at Sng’s confidence that PBM could perform better than Bersama, the new outfit of former PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

“The best thing for all these mosquito parties is to come together. Only then will they represent a real political force. Right now, they’re all doing the same things, and because they’re small they can be beaten easily. If they join forces, it might be harder to beat them,” Chin said.

Liu, a former Selangor DAP strongman and state executive councillor, said PBM was non-racial, non-theocratic, and hoped to be an alternative for voters unhappy with the present government and its predecessors. Sng, when asked how PBM would fare compared with Muda and Bersama, said he believed his party could outperform them and win several state and parliamentary seats.

Liu must prove his worth

Global Asia Consulting analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said Liu has his work cut out ahead of him, particularly given the dynamic and increasingly competitive political environment PBM faces.

Although Liu was well known, and had drawn attention by joining PBM, he faces a challenge in turning this attention into actual votes for PBM, Zaharudin said.

“Experience and political history is definitely an asset, but without existing support, these are merely nostalgia. Liu needs to prove that he’s more than a political memory and still has political currency.

Liu’s entry to PBM could bring experience, networks and media attention, “but without grassroots machinery, a clear narrative and the people’s support, it merely generates publicity without political power,” he said.

PBM would need to state its political identity and its target voters. “Why should voters choose them over parties that already have their brands, structure, and stronger machineries?” Zaharuddin said. - FMT