KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s apparent U-turn on his 2010 “Malay first” declaration has sparked a range of responses from political analysts, with opinions divided on whether the move is sincere or a calculated effort to broaden his appeal ahead of the next general election.
Speaking at a May 4 event hosted by the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), Muhyiddin was reported as saying that the 15-year-old statement was no longer relevant. “I am a Malay who cares for all Malaysians,” he was quoted as saying.
The Bersatu president clarified that while he identifies as a Malay Malaysian, he has never seen himself as “only Malay.” He said, “I have to consider the Chinese, Indians and others, because I am a leader of Malaysia.”
Muhyiddin originally made the controversial remark in 2010 when serving as deputy prime minister under Datuk Seri Najib Razak. At the time, he stated that being “Malay first” did not mean he was not a Malaysian.
Professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) believes Muhyiddin was being truthful rather than retracting his past position. He told Scoop that had the PN leader said otherwise at an event hosted by the coalition’s Indian component, it might have alienated non-Malay communities.
“Muhyiddin, whose son-in-law is Chinese, doesn’t see any contradiction between a Malay-first identity and a Malaysian-first identity,” said the political analyst. “His words were not tactical (as) they were an appeal to non-Malays to better understand his position as leader of a Malay-based political party.”
However, Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan viewed the statement as a strategic pivot designed to attract non-Malay support for PN—support that has been elusive, particularly due to the shortcomings of Gerakan and PAS’s polarising image among non-Malay voters.
Associate Professor Chin Yee Mun of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) said Muhyiddin, having served as both Johor menteri besar and prime minister, cannot afford to align himself too strongly with one ethnic group.
“He cannot claim either tactically or genuinely that he is a Malay first. It has to be by default,” Chin told Scoop. “Although he is no longer the prime minister or menteri besar now, he is the chairman of a coalition with sufficient capacity to replace the current unity government. So again, he is duty bound to claim that he is Malaysia first and no longer Malay first.”
Muhyiddin’s original “Malay first” comment was made in response to a challenge by DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, who had asked him to clarify whether he prioritised his ethnicity or national identity. That controversy had at the time undermined the Najib administration’s 1Malaysia campaign.
Following Muhyiddin’s recent remarks, Lim once again cast doubt on the sincerity of the PN leader’s shift.
In a statement on Monday, the former Iskandar Puteri MP questioned when Muhyiddin made the transition from “Malay first, Malaysian second” to “Malaysian first, Malay second.”
He also asked whether Muhyiddin was now ready to lead a campaign urging Malaysians to prioritise national identity over ethnicity.
No rift expected within PN
Analysts also downplayed the possibility of a rift within PN, particularly with PAS, which has built its platform around Malay-Muslim interests.
Ahmad Fauzi acknowledged that the statement may provoke discontent among ultra-nationalists within the coalition. Nevertheless, with the 16th general election on the horizon and the coalition eyeing mixed seats outside its Malay heartland, most PN leaders would likely support Muhyiddin’s remarks as a pragmatic step.
Echoing this, Azmi said PAS leaders are unlikely to challenge the move, seeing it as beneficial to PN’s broader voter outreach. “So PAS will be keeping quiet, hoping that the non-Malay voters will be attracted to Muhyiddin,” he added.
Chin, too, pointed out that some PAS leaders have presented themselves as representatives for all Malaysians.
Still a long road to win over non-Malays
Despite the rebranding attempt, all three analysts agreed that Muhyiddin’s revised stance alone would not be enough to win over non-Malay voters, especially given PN’s track record of ethnoreligious politics and PAS’s dominant role.
Chin said non-Malay communities would require more than a rhetorical shift—they would need to see PN genuinely evolve into a moderate, multiethnic and progressive coalition.
Ahmad Fauzi argued that Muhyiddin’s efforts fall short of what is needed to reassure non-Malay voters. He suggested that Bersatu and other coalition leaders burdened with “political baggage” should step aside for younger leaders ahead of GE16.
Azmi shared the sentiment, noting that slogans alone will not suffice. “But again, as long as PAS with its extreme views is still there in PN, nothing much would change, even though Bersatu wants to be like PKR, as a multiracial (party) where they are not (just) fighting for the Malays.”
He added: “So in this case, the only way to attract the non-Malay voters is that not only Bersatu should put out (Muhyiddin’s new) slogan, PAS should also do what Muhyiddin is doing.” – May 8, 2025