Saifuddin: End identity politics, focus on performance and economic recovery

PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is discharging the duties of the deputy president, said identity politics was merely a “zero-sum game” that would bring no benefit to the country’s future. — Bernama pic

First Published: Sunday, 16 Aug 2026 5:23 PM MYT

MELAKA, Aug 16 — PKR has called for an end to identity and racial politics, instead urging a greater focus on performance-based politics and economic recovery for the well-being of the people.

PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is discharging the duties of the deputy president, said identity politics was merely a “zero-sum game” that would bring no benefit to the country’s future.

“Do not fight in the arena of identity or racial politics because there are no winners there. We urge the people to evaluate us based on performance-based politics, namely economic performance and their well-being.

“Our politics is about making the ‘pie of prosperity’ bigger. We do not need to take away anyone’s rights to ensure that our children are well fed,” he said when delivering his winding-up speech at the 2026 PKR National Congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) here today.

Saifuddin Nasution, who is also Home Minister, stressed that Malaysia’s racial diversity is a reality that must be accepted and should not be used as an instrument to sow fear among the people.

“Malay identity, Islamic identity, Chinese identity, Indian identity, Sabah identity and Sarawak identity are all part of the reality of Malaysia. There is nothing wrong with identity. The problem arises when identity is used to create fear,” he said.

In this regard, he outlined three key approaches that the Madani Government and party leadership should focus on, namely driving economic growth (“grow the pie”) through the concept of “making the pie of prosperity bigger” so that its benefits can be enjoyed by all segments of society.

The second approach is to channel assistance based on the people’s actual needs regardless of skin colour (need-based), while the third priority is to continue the good governance agenda and combat corruption that causes losses to the nation’s coffers.

He also stressed that the real threat to any community is not the presence of other races, but poverty and social problems such as drug abuse that damage the younger generation.

He said all party members must step up efforts to spread the success stories of the Madani Government and give particular focus to young voters ahead of the next election. — Bernama