Former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli claims newly launched political party Parti Bersama Malaysia (BERSAMA) has already received around 18,000 membership applications within just five days of its launch.
Rafizi, who recently took over leadership of the party together with former PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said nearly half of the applicants were individuals who had never joined any political party before.
According to him, approximately 46 per cent of those registering with BERSAMA were fence-sitters who had previously voted in elections but never felt connected to any political organisation.
“Almost half are voters who never really had a political home before. They voted, but never wanted to officially join any party. Now they are coming to BERSAMA,” he said in a post uploaded on X.
Rafizi further revealed that a significant number of applicants also came from other political parties, with former members or supporters from People’s Justice Party (PKR) making up 29 per cent of the total.
He added that applicants were also joining from parties including United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), National Trust Party (AMANAH), Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA).
“All Malay-based parties are represented. This means there are segments within every party that have long felt disappointed and are now searching for a new political home,” Rafizi claimed.
The former PKR deputy president also rejected criticisms that the formation of BERSAMA would split votes among opposition or reform-minded supporters.
He argued that early membership data showed support was coming from a broad range of Malaysians rather than from one particular political bloc.
Rafizi said the membership demographic currently consists of 62 per cent Malays, 15 per cent Chinese, 14 per cent Indians and seven per cent Bumiputera from Sabah and Sarawak.
According to him, the composition reflects the true diversity of Malaysia’s population more accurately.
BERSAMA officially came under Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s leadership during a political announcement event held on May 17, where both leaders confirmed their takeover of the party.
Rafizi also predicted the party’s membership applications would surpass 20,000 before the end of its first launch week.
