Political power has always been with Malays, says Rafizi

Bersama leader Rafizi Ramli has dismissed the notion that Malays need to unite politically due to a perceived loss of power. He argued that Malays have always held political power in Malaysia and that racial claims serve to divert attention from the real issue of how leaders wield such power. Rafizi's comments came in response to controversial remarks made by Perikatan Nasional election director Sanusi Nor during the Negeri Sembilan election campaign.

Sanusi had suggested that the Chinese and Indian communities could return to their ancestral homelands, while Malays were left with "Tanah Melayu". However, Rafizi later clarified that Sanusi's remarks were not intended to question the citizenship or rights of Malaysian Chinese and Indians.

Rafizi criticized the practice of blaming the economic struggles of Malays on other ethnic groups, asserting that Malaysia has been governed for decades by administrations that have implemented Bumiputera policies. He emphasized that despite these policies, Malay equity ownership has not substantially improved. Rafizi also rejected the claim that Malays have lost power because of the economic influence of Chinese and Indian communities.

He alleged that those in power often exploit racial themes to deflect from deeper governance issues.

Rafizi argued that powerful groups, especially those with centuries of rule, naturally seek to preserve their authority. As societies become more open and question the status quo, these groups look for enemies and emotional issues to rally around. He noted that overseas, such enemies might be minorities, immigrants, or Muslims, but in Malaysia, they often target immigrants, the Chinese, and Indians.

Rafizi disagreed with claims that Malays are losing political power, contending that such assertions divert attention from how power and wealth have been distributed. He also disputed historical accounts that suggest Malays lost power to immigrant communities during the colonial era, stating that political authority was long concentrated among the Malay aristocracy before independence.