Veteran Malaysian lawmaker Wong Chen, who served three terms and spent nearly two decades with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s People’s Justice Party (PKR), resigned from his Subang parliamentary seat on Monday, subsequently leaving PKR the following day. On Wednesday, Wong announced he had applied to join the newly rebranded progressive party Bersama, with his application officially approved during a press conference.

Describing Bersama as the next stage of his political career, Wong said Malaysia is currently experiencing a “very toxic” political phase that necessitates a multiracial progressive alternative. Wong is the third sitting MP to resign from parliament before joining Bersama, following former economy minister Rafizi Ramli and former environment minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who vacated their seats in May prior to leaving PKR.

Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law prohibits MPs from switching parties while retaining their parliamentary seats, prompting these resignations. Wong’s departure highlights ongoing challenges within the ruling coalition, which has faced a series of electoral setbacks.

Sources