PH should counter identity politics through Malay outreach, says DAP rep
PH should counter identity politics through Malay outreach, says DAP rep04-Aug-2026, 11:2904 Aug 2026, 11:29Kota Kemuning assemblyman S Preakas says PH must continue engaging directly with Malay communities –. . .
PH should counter identity politics through Malay outreach, says DAP rep04-Aug-2026, 11:2904 Aug 2026, 11:29Kota Kemuning assemblyman S Preakas says PH must continue engaging directly with Malay communities – not defensively, but confidently. Kota Kemuning assemblyman S Preakas said PH must acknowledge that it has sometimes been too slow in responding to misinformation and identity-based narratives. PETALING JAYA:A DAP assemblyman has urged Pakatan Harapan (PH) to continue engaging directly with the Malay community following the Negeri Sembilan election, where the coalition said it was defeated because its rivals exploited identity politics. In a statement, Kota Kemuning assemblyman S Preakas said PH must continue engaging directly with Malay communities – not defensively, but confidently. “It should continue demonstrating through policies and actions that protecting the constitutional position of Islam, safeguarding the special position of the Malays and Bumiputera, and building a fair Malaysia for all are not contradictory objectives. “They are complementary pillars of our Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement. He said while constitutional guarantees remained intact, claims that they are under threat continued, often with DAP being blamed. He said even Umno leaders had acknowledged that DAP never opposed these constitutional provisions, and that PH-governed states such as Selangor and Penang had continued to uphold and support them. In the Negeri Sembilan election on Saturday, the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional alliance won 25 state seats, enough to form a two-thirds majority state government. PH secured 11 seats, six fewer than in the previous state election. It blamed its defeat on the exploitation of identity politics by its rivals. ‘Too slow in responding’Preakas said PH must acknowledge that it had sometimes been too slow in responding to misinformation and identity-based narratives. “In pursuing political stability and economic recovery, it may have underestimated the need to consistently communicate its policies and defend itself against false perceptions,” he said. He said good governance was insufficient if people did not understand or believe what the government was doing. “Politics is ultimately about trust, and trust requires continuous engagement. ”He “reluctantly” admitted that there were politicians who knowingly exploited fear, prejudice, and misinformation simply because these were effective electoral tools. “They understand that such narratives may weaken national unity, slow social progress, and create unnecessary distrust among Malaysians, yet they continue because they deliver political dividends. “This is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our nation – not economic competition, but the normalisation of fear as a political strategy,” he said, adding that many of the fears promoted during the election campaigns did not correspond with reality. Preakas said PH must communicate more effectively, with policies that improve livelihoods explained consistently, especially in communities that are most vulnerable to misinformation. He added that PH must never abandon its commitment to multiracial politics as doing so would only reinforce the very narratives it sought to overcome. Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.