Kuala lumpur: The move by Pandan Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in taking over Parti Bersama Malaysia is viewed more as an effort to reorganise political influence rather than offering a fresh administrative agenda capable of addressing the country's current challenges.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Mazlan Che Soh, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Seremban, said the move raises questions over whether the new political platform can truly offer greater stability and administrative capability compared to the current government. He noted that amid global economic uncertainty driven by geopolitical conflicts, trade wars, and rising living costs, the public is more concerned with economic stability, employment opportunities, and the government's ability to effectively administer the country.
Dr Mazlan stated that the differences in approach become clearer between Rafizi and the administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. While Rafizi appears focused on forming a new political platform, the MADANI government is concentrating on strengthening the economy, improving the country's fiscal position, and ensuring investor confidence amid a still challenging global economic environment.
Citing official government data and international indicators, Mazlan highlighted Malaysia's economy, which has shown stable growth over the past two years, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rising to 5.1 per cent in 2024, 5.2 per cent in 2025, and 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the initial projection of 4.8 per cent. He added that approved investments have steadily increased from RM264.6 billion in 2022 to RM426.7 billion in 2025, while Malaysia also recorded a trade surplus for 71 consecutive months.
Mazlan mentioned the strengthening of the ringgit to around RM3.90 against the US dollar and Malaysia's improved ranking to 23rd place in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) global competitiveness index, reflecting growing confidence in the national economy. The unemployment rate, which fell to 2.9 per cent, the lowest since 2015, also shows that economic recovery is beginning to translate into employment opportunities and real economic activity.
He noted that various economic benefits are increasingly felt by the public through measures such as the increase in the minimum wage to RM1,700, higher cash assistance of up to RM4,600, improved dividends from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB), higher padi floor prices, as well as targeted subsidies and assistance programmes. Mazlan also highlighted the government's continued implementation of strategic projects, including the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT), the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSSEZ), the Pan Borneo Highway, flood mitigation initiatives, and artificial intelligence (AI) data centre development projects, which he said would create long-term economic spillover effects.
In addressing global economic challenges, he said the government introduced various guarantee and financing schemes for small and medium enterprises, including loan guarantees, micro-credit facilities, and targeted financial incentives. The current administration's main focus is on ensuring economic stability and preventing the people from being overly burdened by global uncertainties.
Reflecting on Rafizi's previous role overseeing economic matters, Mazlan said the politician was more prominent for promoting reform narratives and technocratic approaches than for delivering implementation outcomes with direct impact on the rakyat. While acknowledging Rafizi's strong communication skills and ability to explain economic data, formulas, and simulations in detail, Mazlan said modern leadership legitimacy is ultimately judged not only by rhetoric or policy sophistication.
Mazlan added that voters today are becoming increasingly pragmatic in their political evaluations. Public sentiment is no longer driven solely by slogans of change, but by a government's ability to ensure economic stability, create jobs, and manage living costs effectively. Amid persistent global economic uncertainty, most people prioritise policy continuity and administrative stability over untested political experiments.
Mazlan stressed that while politics can shape perception, effective administration ultimately determines public confidence in the country's future.