FMT:
PAS under pressure to show inclusivity as Bersatu falters, says analyst
2 hours ago
Lynelle Tham
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid says Bersatu’s crisis opens the door for PAS to demonstrate appeal to non-Malays ahead of GE16

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid says PAS should engage in grassroots programmes that transcend religion and ethnicity, ideally together with Bersatu, to demonstrate inclusivity.
PETALING JAYA: Bersatu’s internal strife is turning attention toward PAS, with a political analyst noting that the Islamic party now faces growing pressure to assert itself as a credible multi-ethnic force beyond its northern and northeastern Malay heartlands.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said Bersatu’s open warfare, triggered by Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s public attack on party secretary-general Azmin Ali, has exposed “serious disunity”, and raised doubts about the Malay party’s ability to lead the country.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said Bersatu’s open warfare, triggered by Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s public attack on party secretary-general Azmin Ali, has exposed “serious disunity”, and raised doubts about the Malay party’s ability to lead the country.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.
“We had expected Bersatu to play its role of PAS’s image moderator in the more pluralistic Malaysian states, but with the current problems besetting the party, the demand for PAS to appear more electable and multicultural becomes more urgent than ever.
“Bersatu figures can still chip in, but PAS’s increasingly important role within PN appears inevitable,” the former Universiti Sains Malaysia associate professor told FMT.
Fauzi, however, warned PAS to avoid appearing overjoyed at Bersatu’s troubles, saying voters would likely be turned off by triumphalism.
He expects opponents to portray PAS as extremist or racially exclusive.
“PAS has been presented with a golden opportunity to recalibrate PN in an Islamic mould, and prove to Malaysians and the world that a political partnership driven by Islam can indeed be successful in managing a modern nation-state in a racially and religiously inclusive manner.
“The onus is on PAS, with Bersatu’s help, to prove it is not extremist or racially exclusive,” he said, urging greater engagement with non-Malay communities.
Since Wan Saiful’s broadside, PAS leaders have largely steered clear of commenting on the open hostilities within Bersatu.
The Islamic party is also known for resolving disputes internally, rarely allowing them to spill into the public arena.
“Bersatu figures can still chip in, but PAS’s increasingly important role within PN appears inevitable,” the former Universiti Sains Malaysia associate professor told FMT.
Fauzi, however, warned PAS to avoid appearing overjoyed at Bersatu’s troubles, saying voters would likely be turned off by triumphalism.
He expects opponents to portray PAS as extremist or racially exclusive.
“PAS has been presented with a golden opportunity to recalibrate PN in an Islamic mould, and prove to Malaysians and the world that a political partnership driven by Islam can indeed be successful in managing a modern nation-state in a racially and religiously inclusive manner.
“The onus is on PAS, with Bersatu’s help, to prove it is not extremist or racially exclusive,” he said, urging greater engagement with non-Malay communities.
Since Wan Saiful’s broadside, PAS leaders have largely steered clear of commenting on the open hostilities within Bersatu.
The Islamic party is also known for resolving disputes internally, rarely allowing them to spill into the public arena.

Tawfik Yaakub.
Universiti Malaya’s Tawfik Yaakub suggested that PAS should seize the moment to lead PN until Bersatu resolves its problems.
“How can Bersatu lead when it has been badly wounded by friendly fire from within?” he said.
Tawfik described Bersatu’s infighting as “an embarrassment” that would weaken voter trust ahead of the Sabah state election and eventually the next general election.
He added that unless Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin speaks up, the party risks losing ground to PAS and Umno at the next elections.
“Bersatu was meant to unify the Malays and be an alternative to Umno, but now it is collapsing because of its own public quarrels. This is shameful for a party that once led the federal government,” he said.
“How can Bersatu lead when it has been badly wounded by friendly fire from within?” he said.
Tawfik described Bersatu’s infighting as “an embarrassment” that would weaken voter trust ahead of the Sabah state election and eventually the next general election.
He added that unless Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin speaks up, the party risks losing ground to PAS and Umno at the next elections.
“Bersatu was meant to unify the Malays and be an alternative to Umno, but now it is collapsing because of its own public quarrels. This is shameful for a party that once led the federal government,” he said.
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