Established parties rely on fear to win votes, says Nik Nazmi

Bersama leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has criticized established political parties for their reliance on fear-based tactics to secure votes. At an event in Penang, Nik Nazmi accused such parties of using "ghost stories" to scare Malaysians about the consequences of voting for opponents. Both Nik Nazmi and Bersama co-leader Rafizi Ramli pointed out that major parties often deploy race-based narratives instead of concentrating on everyday issues.

Rafizi went further, stating that the DAP's approach primarily reinforces race-based politics by positioning non-Malay voters as its "last line of defence". Bersama aims to differentiate itself from older political parties by learning from their mistakes and building support gradually over five to seven years. They acknowledged the need for time to establish themselves but expressed determination to challenge the country's major political parties in a legitimate manner.

Penang's electoral history, as Nik Nazmi highlighted, suggests that voters in the state are receptive to political change, citing the 2008 election where Pakatan Rakyat ousted Barisan Nasional.