Muda skips Negeri Sembilan polls, backs PSM and Parti Asli candidates instead
SEREMBAN: The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has announced that it will not contest the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, opting instead to consolidate its organisation and channel resources towards preparations for the next General Election (GE).
Party president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said the decision followed extensive discussions within Muda’s political leadership and state committee, with the party concluding that strengthening its grassroots machinery and long-term electoral strategy would be more beneficial than contesting the state polls.
Rather than fielding its own candidates, Muda will deploy its campaign machinery to support Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) candidate S. Tinagaran in the Rahang state constituency and the Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Parti Asli) candidate contesting Jeram Padang.
Amira said the move reflects the party’s commitment to supporting political partners that share similar reform-oriented values while allowing Muda to focus on rebuilding momentum ahead of the next national election.
“After careful deliberation between Muda’s Political Bureau and the Negeri Sembilan leadership, we decided not to contest this state election so that we can concentrate on strengthening the party in preparation for the next General Election,” she said during a press conference at the PSM Negeri Sembilan office.
She said lessons from the recent Johor state election also influenced the party’s decision, pointing to what she described as the continued dominance of traditional political narratives among larger coalitions.
According to Amira, issues surrounding racial politics and prolonged seat negotiations have continued to overshadow policy-driven debates, reducing public attention on proposals aimed at addressing the real concerns of ordinary Malaysians.
She expressed concern that similar political dynamics could emerge during the Negeri Sembilan campaign, saying voters deserve greater emphasis on governance, public policy and solutions to everyday economic challenges.
The press conference was also attended by PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan and Parti Asli president Rashid Ka, underscoring the cooperation between the three political parties.
During the Johor state election earlier this month, Muda failed to win any of the four constituencies it contested, namely Bukit Batu, Maharani, Simpang Jeram and Puteri Wangsa.
Although Amira remains the incumbent assemblywoman for Puteri Wangsa, she did not seek re-election in the Johor polls.
Meanwhile, PSM officially introduced S. Tinagaran, a tuition teacher and the party’s Negeri Sembilan secretary, as its candidate for the Rahang state seat.
Tinagaran previously contested the Rembau parliamentary constituency during the 2022 General Election.
He said PSM’s campaign would centre on bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary Malaysians rather than narratives based on race or religion.
According to him, the party intends to highlight concerns involving workers, low-income households and economically vulnerable communities, while advocating policies that strengthen social protection, improve livelihoods and promote equitable economic opportunities.
Tinagaran said PSM hopes to present itself as an alternative political choice for voters seeking policies focused on welfare, employment and cost-of-living issues, particularly among lower-income and working-class communities.
