bersatu

Bersatu, short for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), is a political party in Malaysia. The Malay word bersatu means united, with pribumi referring to indigenous peoples. The party was founded in 2016 by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and other political figures as a reform-oriented vehicle for Malay nationalist and liberal-leaning goals. It was officially registered on 16 September 2016.

Bersatu positioned itself as an alternative to existing ruling coalitions and began as part of a broader effort to reshape Malaysian politics. Ahead of the 2018 general election, it joined the Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition, contributing to PH’s historic victory and the change of government. In 2020, following internal realignments and political upheaval, Bersatu left PH and helped form the Perikatan Nasional (PN) governing coalition, aligning with parties such as UMNO and PAS. Since then, it has been a key component of PN and has contested elections at federal and state levels.

Ideology and positioning: the party emphasizes Malay rights and Bumiputera interests within a constitutional-democratic framework. It presents itself as reformist and pragmatic, pursuing policy changes and governance improvements while engaging in coalition politics. The party strives to appeal to voters across ethnic lines, though its support base has historically been strongest among ethnic Malays.

Organization: as a national party, Bersatu maintains a leadership structure that includes a president, deputy presidents, and a supreme council, with party branches across Malaysia. It operates within the broader landscape of Malaysian political parties and coalitions, adapting to changing electoral dynamics.