THE politics of identity and hatred are unsustainable, and the country needs to face up to the reality of bread-and-butter issues, from quality jobs, investments besides safety and security, said Amanah vice-president Adly Zahari.
To achieve stability while upholding safety and security, besides driving growth, no country can continue to antagonise each other over the division of race and religion only, said Adly.
The Deputy Defence Minister, while stating that the ruling federal coalition of Pakatan Harapan (PH) accepts the verdict in Negeri Sembilan and acknowledges a need to learn from its shortcomings, said that identity politics can temporarily win support, but the question is whether it is sustainable in the age of globalisation.
In the Negeri Sembilan state election outcome yesterday, PH lost the southern state it held for the last two terms after state PKR chief and former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook lost their seats respectively.
It only secured seven state seats out of 36, whereas Barisan Nasional and its electoral pact partner Perikatan Nasional won 29 to secure a two-thirds majority.
Adly, a former Melaka Chief Minister, said the PH coalition of PKR, DAP and Amanah subscribes to the universal value of politics where transparency, integrity and progressive ideals dominate its campaign staple.
"We now know that identity politics poses a huge challenge. The application of race and religious divides the country even more.
"Sooner, the rakyat will want to see how the economy works; how to earn a decent living and how to best fight the living costs - a global phenomenon," said Adly after opening the Penang Amanah convention at the Holiday Inn & Suites.
He sees PH as sticking to its principles of politics of progress and fighting corruption while ensuring that no Malaysian is left behind.
"We accept defeat as part of democracy and our politics, but our principles remain intact. The country cannot progress if it is mired in identity politics only."
Asked about the anticipated state election in Melaka, which is said to be near, Adly, who had served for 22 months as the state's chief minister, acknowledged that PH needs to revise its strategy after the "lessons" in Johor and Negri Sembilan.
"We will hold meetings on how we can best counter identity politics.
"When the other side uses race and religion, it nullifies Amanah's reach. We need to find ways to counter this narrative," stressed Adly. - August 2, 2026.
