Hisommudin Bakar of Ilham Centre said party president Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks signalled a recognition that PKR must be more selective in choosing where to contest, particularly in Malay-majority states where its grassroots strength remains limited.
He said the approach sent a clear message to divisional leaders to be more realistic in assessing winnability based on data, active membership, and the strength of party machinery.
“In Malay-majority states where PKR typically ranks third, the need to demonstrate strong grassroots machinery becomes even more critical before laying claim to seats in coalition negotiations.
“Contesting in weak areas not only risks defeat, but also drains party resources that should be focused on winnable seats,” he told FMT.
However, Hisommudin cautioned that pulling back from certain areas could open the door for Perikatan Nasional (PN) to consolidate its influence, especially in marginal seats.
“Despite some internal challenges in PN, current voting patterns among Malay voters do not show a significant shift towards PKR.
“PKR is still not widely seen as a party that represents core Malay-Muslim interests,” he said, adding that the party needed a more targeted and nuanced strategy to break into Malay-majority constituencies.
Speaking at a Terengganu PKR mini convention on Wednesday, Anwar said the party would only consider contesting in areas with strong machinery, active membership, and consistent grassroots programmes.
The prime minister said that the leadership would not entertain proposals from weak divisions, even if backed by support or recommendations.
PKR contested 72 parliamentary seats and won 31 in the 2022 general election.
Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting said filtering seats based on organisational strength might appear pragmatic but could expose deeper structural weaknesses, including loose membership and weak machinery.
He also said that PKR risked becoming increasingly disconnected from rural and conservative Malay voters.
“If PKR confines itself to mixed urban seats, it will drift further from the pulse of Malay voters.
“Reform cannot survive on comfort politics. It requires the courage to break into difficult areas and build new trust,” he said.