PBM? PEJUANG? 3 new Malaysian political parties since 2020

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Hey hey, people. Raise your hands if you’ve heard of UMNO or DAP. Alright, cool, cool. Now raise your hands if you’ve heard of Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM). Mhm. That’s what we thought.

Okay, for real though, most people we’ve talked to haven’t heard of local political parties that were established more recently, like the aforementioned PBM, and since it’s GE season, we thought we’d cover a few of these fledgling parties. And hey, if you like the sound of them, maybe y’all might end up voting for them.

1. Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA)

These guys can probably count themselves among the more well-known of the newer political parties thanks to their poster boy, Syed Saddiq. MUDA was established earlier on in 2020 but was denied registration by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) seemingly without a good reason.

Eventually, thanks to the High Court, they were made official on 29 December 2021. In March the following year, MUDA managed to snag the Puteri Wangsa constituency in the Johor elections, netting them 1 out of the 222 seats in Dewan Rakyat. They’re still in talks with Pakatan Harapan (PH) about joining hands for GE15, but nothing’s really set in stone yet.

What they believe in: Raising the next generation of Malaysian leaders, reforming the economy, multiracialism

Pros: They might “turbocharge” Malaysia’s economy

Cons: They’ve got a lot of non-muda members

2. Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (PEJUANG)

Another one with an iconic poster boy – Tun M. My guy really started a new political party at age 95 years old. Anyway, PEJUANG got its start in August 2020 as a “Malay-based” party, with Tun M and four other ex-BERSATU members. After failing to register with the RoS in January 2021, they were greenlit by the High Court in June 2021, and the RoS had to relent.

They didn’t do too well in the Johor elections this year having won zero seats in the state, and they are, supposedly, in discussions with BERSATU to team up for GE15, but again, no word on that actually happening… yet.

What they believe in: Fighting against corruption, pro-Malay and pro-Islam goals

Pros: Anti-corruption and anti-kleptocracy manifesto

Cons: Tun M might leave PEJUANG to create another party… again

3. Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM)

Technically, PBM is sort of a rebranding of a previously existing party, the Sarawak Workers Party… which was itself a rebranding of the Sabah People’s Front. When Larry Sng (Julau MP) rejoined the party in November 2021, he said that PBM didn’t totally hate the idea of joining the BN coalition in anticipation of GE15. Nothing seemed to come of that, though.

As of October 2022, Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang MP) of bloodthirsty orangutan fame took Larry’s place as President of the party after she left BERSATU. Oh, and they have a new ally: KUASA, led by Ismail Sabri’s older brother, Kamarazaman Yaakob.

What they believe in: Welfare for the B40 and M40 classes, youth development, multiracialism

Pros: If they don’t do well, there’s a squad of orangutans ready to take them down

Cons: Orangutans continue to be stigmatized in the eyes of society

BONUS: Gerak Independent

They’re not aaaaactually a political party, they’re more of an organization that’s backing a small group of independent candidates for the upcoming GE15, including activists and lawyers. It seems like anyone can go through Gerak Independent’s vetting process and be a candidate under them, but BOY does it seem complicated.

What they believe in: Ending divisive politics, honoring the Malaysia Agreement 1963, restoring power back to the rakyat, reforming the education system

Pros: They’re very ambitious

Cons: Siti Kasim’s probably their only famous candidate

Should you vote for these new parties?

So yeah, should you vote for PEJUANG, PBM, MUDA or anyone from Gerak Independent? That’s… really up to you.

Listen, it doesn’t matter whether you’re gonna vote for the newer parties or old dogs like BN or PKR, just go out and vote when GE15 actually hits cuz if you don’t, savage orangutans will descend upon your house in the night. We’re not entirely sure when it’s gonna be yet, but hopefully, the banjir thing won’t be super bad whenever that happens.