Penganalisis ragui rancangan PBM bertapak di Malaysia Barat dengan Ronnie Liu

Former DAP leader Ronnie Liu announced on Sunday that he is joining the Sarawak-based People’s Justice Party (PBM), led by Larry Sng. While Liu leads the effort, analysts suggest that his presence alone will not make a significant impact as PBM is more synonymous with Sarawak. James Chin, from the University of Tasmania, stated that PBM's focus is centered on its chairman, Larry Sng.

Azmi Hassan, from the Nusantara Academy, noted PBM's failure in the 2025 Sabah general election, indicating that the party will continue to struggle in Malaysia's diverse political landscape. "The legacy, which is more recognized, faces a very difficult era to develop its influence on the mainland. Even Zuraida Kamaruddin, a former deputy president of PKR, failed to retain her parliamentary seat for PBM in the 2022 general election," Azmi said to FMT.

Zuraida, a former vice president of PKR, lost her parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election while contesting under the PBM ticket. Liu announced his formal membership in PBM on Sunday, focusing on strengthening the party's presence and recruiting new members in Malaysia's East Coast. Chin criticized PBM's continuous reliance on Sng, who is the son of former Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Sng Chee Hua, and his lack of credibility in claiming that PBM can achieve better results than Bersatu, a new party founded by former PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

"The best thing for all these upstart parties is to join forces. Only then will they represent genuine political power. For now, they are all doing the same thing, and because they are small, they are easily defeated. If they join forces, it will be harder to defeat them," Chin stated. PBM, founded by people from various ethnic backgrounds, is not a party based on ethnicity, is not a theocratic party, and Liu hopes it will become an alternative for voters dissatisfied with the current and previous governments.

When asked about PBM's performance compared to Muda and Bersatu, Sng said he believes his party can surpass both parties and win several state and parliamentary seats. Liu faces a challenge in proving PBM's political value amidst a dynamic and increasingly competitive political environment. While his experience, networks, and media attention are assets, they alone are not enough to convert that into political power.

Political veterans can bring experience, networks, and media attention, but without a clear narrative and voter support, they may only generate publicity without political power, according to Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri. PBM needs to define its political identity and the target voter group. Why should the public choose them over a well-known party with a strong structure, identity, and diversity? Zaharuddin asked.