KUALA LUMPUR – Veteran politician Ronnie Liu has confirmed plans to re‑enter politics, not through his former party DAP but via a new platform he says will embody “non‑racial, new politics.”
Speaking on a Scoop Insight podcast, Liu said repeated calls from friends and supporters, coupled with frustration over the Selangor government’s handling of issues such as the pig farming ban, had convinced him to stage a comeback.
“I reluctantly said no to party politics when I resigned, but people kept asking me to speak up. After three and a half years, I think Pakatan Harapan has failed to deliver,” Liu told Scoop Insight host News Editor Azim Idris. Also on the podcast was Editor‑in‑Chief Terence Fernandez.
“They (PH) cannot do, they didn’t deliver on the manifesto. A lot of reforms written that were not fulfilled,” he said.
“They retained draconian laws, failed to fulfil reforms, and introduced unnecessary new taxes. Policies like the pig farm ban and restrictions on religious houses of worship in Selangor are bad.
“The people, in general are not very happy with the government. So, I’m not alone.”
The full podcast will bee released via the Podaboom platform this Sunday.
Liu’s political career spans more than four decades, marked by his role as a senior figure in DAP and his reputation as a vocal grassroots leader in Selangor.
He first entered the Selangor State Assembly in 2008, representing Pandamaran.
He served as State Executive Councillor for Local Government, Studies and Research under then Menteri Besar, the late Datuk Seri Khalid Ibrahim.
Liu returned to the assembly in 2018 as the representative for Sungai Pelek, before resigning from DAP in 2023 after disagreements with the party’s leadership.
Known for his outspoken style, he often championed issues of governance, religious freedom, and farmers’ livelihoods, while also courting controversy — most recently over Selangor’s pig farming ban, which drew a palace rebuke.
Liu’s remarks come after Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah ordered a “full stop” to pig farming in Selangor, shutting down 114 farms.
Liu questioned whether modern closed‑house farming was given a fair chance.
He was rebuked by the palace and was instructed by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to visit the Rukun Negara monument in Shah Alam to reflect on its five tenets.
The episode has become a turning point in his political journey.
From retirement to ‘Second Strike’
Liu said he initially retired from partisan politics but continued to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan.
In December last year, he began documenting his thinking process in a book titled Second Strike, signalling his intent to return.
“I’ve decided to make a comeback. I’m looking for a new platform — not any platform, but one that represents positive energy, non‑racial politics, and which says bye‑bye to old‑fashioned parties,” he said.
While speculation has linked him to Bersama or Warisan, Liu insisted he is still working on the narratives before announcing a formal vehicle.
“It has to be a platform I’m comfortable with. They have to agree with me, not the other way around.”
A vision of non‑racial politics
Liu outlined his vision of “non‑racial politics,” arguing that Malaysia must move beyond multi‑racial frameworks that still calculate policies along ethnic lines.
“Multi‑racial won’t work. It has to be non‑racial. Policies must not be seen from Malay, Chinese, or Indian perspectives. Gen Z and younger voters already think this way,” he said.
He also criticised the Undi18 reform, claiming Malaysian youth lack political education compared to peers in Scandinavia.
“You allow them to vote at 18, but they know nothing about politics. That’s why it ended up not being positive for Malaysia,” he said, adding that many young voters in Tambun supported Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu over Anwar.
Liu proposed a new approach to political manifestos: inviting Malaysians — from youth groups to the Bar Council and industry players — to collectively draft policies.
“It doesn’t come from my party. I will invite everyone to give input, then we’ll have a committee to draft it, and let Malaysians review it. Eventually, our platform will adopt that manifesto,” he explained.
Liu’s return could reshape Selangor’s political landscape, especially as debates over agriculture, religious freedoms, and youth voting intensify.
His critique of Pakatan Harapan signals a widening gap between reformist expectations and government delivery. While he remains supportive of Anwar personally, Liu’s insistence on a new platform underscores his belief that Malaysia needs fresh political energy.
As Scoop’s Terence Fernandez quipped during the interview, Liu may be seen as “the Chinese Rafizi.” But Liu rejected the label, stressing that his politics are not ethnic but inclusive.
“We will be talking about new politics. Non‑racial. Inclusive. And not the same old thinking,” he said. – June 6, 2026