Pakatan Harapan’s Strength Depends on All Component Parties, Not DAP Alone

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Tengku Zulpuri said Malaysia’s political history had demonstrated that the coalition’s successes were achieved through collective efforts rather than the strength of one party.

He referred to the 2008 general election, when the then-Pakatan Rakyat coalition made major gains against Barisan Nasional and secured control of Penang and Selangor. He said those victories reflected the combined support and organisational strength of the coalition’s component parties.

Tengku Zulpuri also highlighted the formation of the Unity Government following the 2022 general election. Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and several parties from Sabah and Sarawak joined forces to establish the federal administration following the intervention of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with national stability and economic recovery among the main priorities.

He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had adopted a pragmatic approach by choosing what he described as a lesser political risk to prevent greater instability.

However, Tengku Zulpuri alleged that some Barisan Nasional leaders were competing for power and seeking cooperation with Perikatan Nasional in an effort to protect their political positions.

His remarks followed comments by former Bangi Member of Parliament Ong Kian Ming, who reportedly described Penang as DAP’s final electoral stronghold and urged the party to reassess its political strategy.

The statement has raised questions about DAP’s future electoral position as Malaysia’s political landscape becomes increasingly competitive and voter sentiment continues to evolve.

Tebing Tinggi assemblyman Abdul Aziz Bari also acknowledged that DAP was facing a decline in voter support. However, he argued that many Malaysians were still struggling to identify a stronger alternative to the current federal administration.

Abdul Aziz predicted that even if the existing government lost a future election, the administration replacing it might struggle to remain in power for an extended period.

He suggested that a new government could survive for only about 18 months, despite his view that the current prime minister had made significant efforts to manage the country’s challenges.