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| Malaysian United Indigenous Party | |
|---|---|
| Name | Malaysian United Indigenous Party |
| Native name | Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Muhyiddin Yassin, Mahathir Mohamad |
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur |
| Position | Centre-right to right-wing |
| Country | Malaysia |
Malaysian United Indigenous Party is a political party in Malaysia formed in 2016 by senior politicians from United Malays National Organisation, including former Prime Ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Mahathir Mohamad. The party emerged amid shifts in Malaysian politics involving the Pakatan Harapan coalition, the 2018 general election, and the 2020 political realignment known as the Sheraton Move. It has participated in federal cabinets headed by leaders such as Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The party was launched in 2016 by defectors from United Malays National Organisation who cited disputes after the 1MDB scandal involving former Prime Minister Najib Razak and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Early activities included alliances with Pakatan Harapan and participation in the 2018 general election that led to the first non-Barisan Nasional federal government since Malaysian independence. Internal tension between co-founders culminated in a split when Mahathir Mohamad left to form or rejoin other formations, leading to the party’s role in the 2020 collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government via the Sheraton Move. The party subsequently joined the Perikatan Nasional coalition, influencing the formation of the Muhyiddin cabinet and later affecting the collapse and formation of the Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Anwar Ibrahim administrations.
The party defines itself with principles emphasizing the interests of Bumiputera, Malay-Muslim identity, and conservative governance, often aligning with platforms advocated by United Malays National Organisation and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia. It espouses policies framed around affirmative action for Bumiputera, constitutional provisions such as the Federal Constitution (Malaysia), and positions on religious affairs linked to institutions like the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). The party’s rhetoric draws on nationalist currents seen in Southeast Asian parties and invokes figures such as Tunku Abdul Rahman in symbolic appeals, while critics compare it to regional conservative parties including Malaysia’s own Perikatan Nasional allies.
Leadership originated with co-founders Muhyiddin Yassin and Mahathir Mohamad, with subsequent presidencies and reshuffles involving figures like Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and state leaders from Kedah, Kelantan, and Penang. The party structure includes a central committee, youth wing comparable to those in United Malays National Organisation and Democratic Action Party, and state chapters across Selangor, Johor, Perak, and other states. Key functionaries have included ministers who served in cabinets under Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional, with parliamentary representation in the Dewan Rakyat and state assemblies such as the Kedah State Legislative Assembly.
The party contested the 2018 general election as part of Pakatan Harapan and increased Malay-Muslim representation, contributing to the coalition victory over Barisan Nasional. In the 2022 general election, as part of Perikatan Nasional, the party contested seats nationally and won constituencies in regions including Kuala Terengganu, Batu Kawan, and Pagoh, affecting the balance of power in the Dewan Rakyat. Electoral outcomes have been compared to shifts witnessed in the 1999 and 2013 Malaysian elections, with vote swings analyzed alongside parties such as PAS, PKR, and MCA.
The party advocates affirmative action policies for Bumiputera aligned with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution (Malaysia), supports Malay-Muslim educational initiatives linked to institutions like Institut Pendidikan Guru and religious schools, and backs economic measures favoring small and medium enterprises affected by national fiscal policy decisions such as those under successive Ministry of Finance (Malaysia) administrations. It has supported positions on immigration and border security referencing agencies like the Royal Malaysian Police and emphasized rural development in areas administered by state bodies such as the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA).
Critics have pointed to the party’s role in the 2020 government change Sheraton Move and accused leaders of political opportunism similar to controversies around figures like Anwar Ibrahim and Najib Razak in different contexts. Internal disputes led to lawsuits over party registration and leadership claims brought before the Registrar of Societies and courts including the Federal Court of Malaysia. Policy criticism has come from opponents such as Pakatan Harapan components PKR and DAP, alleging erosion of pluralist commitments and raising concerns tied to allegations of cronyism in state-linked companies like Projek Perumahan Rakyat Berhad.
Initially allied with Pakatan Harapan in 2018, the party later became a core component of Perikatan Nasional alongside PAS and other regional parties, and briefly cooperated with factions from Barisan Nasional during federal negotiations. Its coalition maneuvers influenced the formation of cabinets involving leaders such as Muhyiddin Yassin, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and Anwar Ibrahim. State-level alliances have included collaborations with parties in Sabah and Sarawak like Parti Warisan Sabah and regional assemblies affecting outcomes in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly and Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.