COMMENT | Having been part of Perikatan Nasional, I understand how the coalition positions itself as a multiracial force. It highlights Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) as proof of this claim, but the reality is far less convincing.

These parties exist within PN not as genuine representatives of their communities but as symbolic figures designed to create an illusion of diversity. Their presence does not change the fact that PN’s voter base, leadership structure, and policy direction remain overwhelmingly reliant on Malay support.

This isn’t surprising - it’s simply the way PN was built. Gerakan and MIPP were never meant to be influential players within the coalition. Instead, they serve a function: to present PN as inclusive without significantly altering its political core.

Gerakan was once a dominant force in Penang, governing the state for nearly four decades. However, the political landscape has shifted, and Gerakan has struggled to adapt. While the party still carries historical significance...