PETALING JAYA: Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president Larry Sng today acknowledged that the party has largely revolved around him, saying the entry of former DAP veteran Ronnie Liu is part of efforts to expand the PBM leadership.
Responding to an analyst who labelled PBM a one-man show centred on Sng, the Julau MP said he wanted to build a political party comprising multiple capable, experienced and principled leaders.
He said a political party could not depend on a single leader, and that PBM had begun working to change that perception.
“For me, Liu joining PBM is not simply gaining another political celebrity. It marks the party’s push to expand its leadership circle, recruit talents from diverse backgrounds, and strengthen grassroots organisational development throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
“I will consider my tenure as president a success only if PBM can operate smoothly and continue growing even without Larry Sng at its helm one day,” he said in a statement.
Political analysts had poured cold water on Sarawak-based PBM’s plans to expand its West Malaysian presence, expecting it to have little impact even with Liu leading the charge.
Global Asia Consulting’s Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said Liu was well known and had drawn attention by joining PBM, but turning this attention into actual votes for the party was another task altogether.
Zaharuddin also said PBM needed to outline a clear political identity and its targeted segment of voters given the crowded and dynamic political arena.
‘I’m starting from the ground up’
Separately, Liu maintained that he had not joined PBM in search of a new political position, and acknowledged that his entry did not “suddenly” make the party a force to be reckoned with.
Instead, the former Selangor executive councillor said he intends to start from the ground up, building PBM’s grassroots network by meeting various interest groups and ordinary citizens.
“I will build branches, scout for talents, nurture young leaders, and bring the people’s most pressing concerns into PBM’s policy framework.
“I am ready to be judged by tangible results. One year from now, ask me how many grassroots branches have been established, how many active members have signed up, how many problem-solving policies PBM has proposed, and how many Malaysians consider PBM a viable option.
“That will be my true report card,” he said.
Sng and Liu said PBM was a multiracial party that rejects theocracy and centres its agenda on good governance and tangible improvements to the livelihood of Malaysians.
They said the party would work on building its grassroots network, cultivating young leaders, fielding trustworthy figures and developing policy proposals to offer Malaysians a political alternative.
“We do not demand that political analysts revise their current assessments today, nor is it necessary. Let today’s critical commentary stand on record. Come back to evaluate PBM one year later.”
