Analysts have cast doubt on Parti Bangsa Malaysia’s plans to expand its presence in West Malaysia, saying the move is unlikely to have much impact despite former DAP veteran Ronnie Liu taking on a leading role.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Liu’s presence would not make a significant difference as PBM remained more closely associated with Sarawak.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania, meanwhile, described PBM as essentially a “one-man show” centred on its president, Larry Sng.
Azmi said PBM’s unsuccessful venture into Sabah during the 2025 state election showed that Sng’s party would continue to face difficulties establishing itself in West Malaysia’s vastly different political environment.
“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. She also lost her election deposit.
Liu tasked with expanding PBM’s presence
Liu formally joined PBM on Sunday and has been tasked with building up the party’s presence and recruiting new members in West Malaysia.
Chin said PBM had always 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.
He also dismissed Sng’s confidence that PBM could perform better than Bersama, the new party formed by 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 and non-theocratic, and hoped to offer an alternative to voters dissatisfied with the present government and its predecessors.
Sng, when asked how PBM would fare against Muda and Bersama, said he believed the party could outperform them and win several state and parliamentary seats.
Liu faces challenge to turn profile into votes
Global Asia Consulting analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said Liu had his work cut out for him, particularly amid the dynamic and increasingly competitive political environment facing PBM.
Although Liu was well known and had attracted attention by joining PBM, Zaharuddin said the challenge would be turning that attention into actual votes for the party.
“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,” he said.
Zaharuddin said Liu’s entry into PBM could bring experience, networks and media attention, but these alone would not be enough to translate into political strength.
“Without grassroots machinery, a clear narrative and the people’s support, it merely generates publicity without political power,” he said.
He said PBM would also need to clearly define its political identity and target voters.
“Why should voters choose them over parties that already have their brands, structure, and stronger machineries?” Zaharuddin said.
