PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s dismissal of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s warning to Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has exposed the true nature of the BN-PN electoral cooperation. Although Zahid urged Sanusi to stop exploiting racial and religious issues and to remain in Kedah, Samsuri described the request as merely Zahid’s personal opinion and said Sanusi should continue campaigning in Negeri Sembilan if he was available.
Samsuri’s response amounts to a public rejection of Zahid’s authority as BN chairman and confirms that PAS and PN do not intend to respect the boundaries set by BN. Instead of accepting Zahid’s warning and taking steps to prevent further racial provocation, Samsuri has kept the door open for Sanusi to return and continue setting the tone of the campaign.
This episode shows that PAS is determining the political direction and campaign narrative of the cooperation, while BN is left reacting to the controversy and absorbing the political damage. Zahid may be the BN chairman, but his warning carries no weight with PN and has been dismissed as a personal view that PN is free to ignore.
Sanusi’s remarks were clear and deeply divisive. He said that the Chinese have China, Indians have India, while the Malays only have Tanah Melayu, thereby suggesting that Malaysian Chinese and Indians have other countries to fall back on.
Sanusi has refused to withdraw his remarks or apologise, and he now insists that his statement was factual while threatening legal action against those who criticise him. Samsuri’s decision to continue welcoming Sanusi onto the campaign trail shows that PN has no intention of correcting this dangerous narrative.
The rejection of Sanusi’s remarks by Zahid, BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir and Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said is noted, but their statements are meaningless without action. BN continues cooperating with PN, its candidates continue benefiting from PAS support, and its campaign continues providing a platform for leaders who use racial fear to win votes.
BN cannot claim to defend moderation and multiracial Malaysia while helping PAS expand its influence and normalise this form of racial politics. BN voluntarily entered this cooperation and must accept responsibility for its consequences, because it cannot collect PAS votes during an election and then deny responsibility when PAS leaders make divisive statements.
Samsuri’s response has also destroyed the argument that BN can moderate PAS through cooperation. The opposite is now happening, as PAS sets the terms, PN decides who campaigns and what narrative is used, while BN lacks the authority and courage to impose any meaningful red line.
This development is dangerous for the future of nation building in Malaysia because national unity depends on mutual respect and a shared sense of belonging. Racial harmony will be steadily destroyed if political leaders are allowed to classify Malaysians according to their ancestral origins and suggest that some citizens have other countries to return to.
Sanusi’s narrative divides Malaysians into Malays who supposedly have only Malaysia and non-Malays who supposedly have alternative countries. Such rhetoric may be used to gain votes in the short term, but it will create lasting distrust and inflict serious damage on relations between communities.
The BN-PN cooperation is giving this extremist racial narrative wider political legitimacy, and BN has therefore failed in its duty to safeguard Malaysia’s multiracial character. Instead of restraining PAS, BN is helping PAS carry its politics into the national mainstream.
Negeri Sembilan voters should reject PN’s racial extremism and BN’s role in enabling it. In every seat contested by BN, voters should vote against BN to send a clear message that cooperation with PAS and the normalisation of divisive racial politics will carry an electoral price.
A vote for BN in this election will strengthen the BN-PN arrangement, increase PAS influence over BN’s political direction and encourage similar racial and religious provocation in future elections. Malaysians must reject this arrangement before it becomes the model for the next general election.
BN has failed to protect multiracial Malaysia, while Zahid has failed to impose any meaningful condition on the cooperation. PAS is setting the agenda, and BN is helping to advance it. Voters should reject both at the ballot box.