KUALA LUMPUR – Veteran politician Ronnie Liu has welcomed PAS deputy president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s call for unity and equal opportunities, but said Malaysians would be watching closely to see whether the coalition could turn those words into action.
Liu said he was prepared to believe Ahmad Samsuri’s remarks that Malaysia was not built by a single race or religion, but stressed that the country had heard enough speeches on unity without seeing them consistently reflected in politics and government policies.
“I am willing to believe what Dr Sam said today, but the people need even more to see what he and PAS will do tomorrow,” he said in a statement.
Ahmad Samsuri had said Malaysia was built jointly by all communities, stressing that the country’s differences should be regarded as a strength during a multi-faith gathering at Kelab Shah Alam here yesterday.
He also called on religious leaders to build bridges rather than create divisions, while advocating fair opportunities for all Malaysians.
Liu said the remarks were consistent with what Malaysian politics needed, particularly coming from a senior PAS and PN leader.
“As someone who has been active in politics within a plural society for decades, I believe these remarks hold true. They are exactly what Malaysian politics needs to hear at this moment,” said Liu who recently joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
However, Liu cautioned that the real test would be whether the principles outlined by Ahmad Samsuri were applied beyond speeches and political events.
He said if Malaysia was genuinely built by all communities, that principle must be reflected in areas including education, economic opportunities, local governance, culture, religious freedom, public resources and government policies.
“When we speak of ‘fairness to all’ today, we must also dare uphold that very same standard when facing our own supporters tomorrow,” he said.
Liu also questioned whether Ahmad Samsuri’s position represented his personal political stance or a broader direction that would be adopted by PN and PAS.
“I also hope this is not merely Dr Sam’s personal political stance, but a direction collectively adopted by the whole of PN and even PAS,” he said.
Liu warned that Malaysian politics could not continue along a path where different parties positioned themselves as protectors of particular ethnic communities.
“A nation cannot function where one party protects Malays today, another protects the Chinese tomorrow, and yet another protects the Indians.
“If we continue down this path, we will forever remain separate ethnic groups residing within one country, without truly becoming one people,” he said.
With almost seven decades having passed since independence, Liu said Malaysia’s political discourse should move beyond the question of which community is being protected.
“Nearly seventy years have passed since Malaysia gained independence. It is time for our politics to move beyond the framework of ‘who protects whom’, toward ‘a system that treats every person fairly’,” he said.
Liu said he would support Ahmad Samsuri if the latter was genuinely prepared to pursue such a direction, while making clear that his support would depend on principles rather than political affiliation.
“If Dr Sam is prepared to move in this direction, I will support what is right. Should he one day deviate from the principles he articulated today, I will not hesitate to criticise him.
“National interest must come before party interest. Who we support matters far less than the principles we stand for,” he said. – August 17, 2026