{
  "id": 1244232,
  "title": "Saifuddin: End identity politics, focus on performance and economic recovery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/saifuddin-end-identity-politics-focus-on-performance-and-economic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T09:23:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/16/saifuddin-end-identity-politics-focus-on-performance-and-economic-recovery/231596"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's PKR party has urged an end to identity and racial politics, advocating instead for performance-based politics and economic recovery for the benefit of the nation's people, according to a statement from PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The deputy president, who is also serving as Home Minister, argued that identity politics is a \"zero-sum game\" that yields no advantage for the country's future. He emphasized that the focus should be on evaluating the party based on performance in economic terms and the well-being of the populace.\n\nSaifuddin stressed Malaysia's racial diversity is an undeniable reality that should not be weaponized to create fear among the populace. The Malay, Islamic, Chinese, Indian, Sabah and Sarawak identities are all part of Malaysia's complex tapestry, and using identity to sow discord is misguided. Instead, he highlighted three priorities for the Madani Government and the party leadership: fostering economic growth, allocating aid based on actual needs without regard to skin colour, and maintaining good governance to curb corruption.\n\nSaifuddin argued that the true menace to any community is not the presence of other races, but rather poverty and social issues like drug abuse, which harm the younger generation. He urged party members to amplify the success stories of the Madani Government and pay special attention to young voters ahead of the next election.",
  "summary": "MELAKA, Aug 16 — PKR has called for an end to identity and racial politics, instead urging a greater fo...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Saifuddin: End identity politics, focus on performance and economic recovery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/saifuddin-end-identity-politics-focus-on-performance-and-economic-1245473",
        "published": "2026-08-16T09:23:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}