Bersatu’s potential new allies offer next to nothing, say analysts
5 hours ago
Nicholas Chung and Elill Easwaran
Political analysts say the smaller parties lack electoral influence and would not be able to compensate for the loss of PAS if it parts ways with Bersatu
Abdul Hadi Awang’s PAS may choose to discard Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu and tie up with Hamzah Zainudin’s soon-to-be-announced new political outfit, according to an analyst.
PETALING JAYA: Ahmad Faizal Azumu’s confidence that “other parties” will rally behind Bersatu if PAS chooses to break out on its own is misplaced, analysts say, arguing that such support would do little to strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.
Syaza Shukri.
International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Syaza Shukri said it was unclear which parties the Bersatu vice-president was referring to in his recent remarks.
She suggested that Faizal may have been alluding to parties within the Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) grouping, but questioned whether they would align with his emphasis on Malay interests.
“If it’s the smaller Malay parties such as Iman and Berjasa, why would they go with IPR instead of Perikatan Nasional? Ultimately, they are small parties, so their addition may not significantly impact electoral success,” she said.
“However, such groups could still provide grassroots support, especially since Faizal also highlighted the importance of working with non-governmental organisations.”
Syaza suggested that in the event of a split, the smaller Malay-Muslim parties would likely gravitate towards PAS, particularly if the Islamic party collaborates with former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.
She said PAS would also likely retain the bulk of PN’s support base in the event the opposition coalition breaks up.
“I’ve always felt that PN voters are mostly PAS voters, so I don’t think a split would cause much confusion. Most of them would follow PAS,” she said.
“It is the so-called moderate Malay nationalists who would have to choose between Bersatu and Umno.”
Syaza also said parties such as Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) would find it easier to work with Bersatu than PAS.
“Gerakan and MIPP know that the real strength lies with PAS, but PAS voters and ideology are very different (from their own). Joining Bersatu makes more sense, and they may also have a more equal say in such a collaboration,” she said.
On Monday, Faizal said PAS was free to determine its own direction if it believed doing so would advance the Malay cause and strengthen unity.
He expressed confidence that many other parties would continue to support Bersatu even if PAS decided to contest elections on its own.
Faizal’s remarks followed PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s suggestion that PAS and Bersatu contest future elections separately, citing disparities in the strength of party machinery within PN.
The disagreement stemmed from comments made by Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali at a ceramah in Melaka, where he rejected claims that Bersatu lacked grassroots machinery and urged critics to “open their eyes and ears”.
She suggested that Faizal may have been alluding to parties within the Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) grouping, but questioned whether they would align with his emphasis on Malay interests.
“If it’s the smaller Malay parties such as Iman and Berjasa, why would they go with IPR instead of Perikatan Nasional? Ultimately, they are small parties, so their addition may not significantly impact electoral success,” she said.
“However, such groups could still provide grassroots support, especially since Faizal also highlighted the importance of working with non-governmental organisations.”
Syaza suggested that in the event of a split, the smaller Malay-Muslim parties would likely gravitate towards PAS, particularly if the Islamic party collaborates with former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.
She said PAS would also likely retain the bulk of PN’s support base in the event the opposition coalition breaks up.
“I’ve always felt that PN voters are mostly PAS voters, so I don’t think a split would cause much confusion. Most of them would follow PAS,” she said.
“It is the so-called moderate Malay nationalists who would have to choose between Bersatu and Umno.”
Syaza also said parties such as Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) would find it easier to work with Bersatu than PAS.
“Gerakan and MIPP know that the real strength lies with PAS, but PAS voters and ideology are very different (from their own). Joining Bersatu makes more sense, and they may also have a more equal say in such a collaboration,” she said.
On Monday, Faizal said PAS was free to determine its own direction if it believed doing so would advance the Malay cause and strengthen unity.
He expressed confidence that many other parties would continue to support Bersatu even if PAS decided to contest elections on its own.
Faizal’s remarks followed PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s suggestion that PAS and Bersatu contest future elections separately, citing disparities in the strength of party machinery within PN.
The disagreement stemmed from comments made by Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali at a ceramah in Melaka, where he rejected claims that Bersatu lacked grassroots machinery and urged critics to “open their eyes and ears”.
‘Overly optimistic’
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Mazlan Ali also took the view that Faizal was being overly optimistic about Bersatu’s prospects without PAS.
Mazlan Ali.
He said the parties Faizal was referring to were likely smaller component and friendly parties, including Gerakan, MIPP, Urimai, the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP), Pejuang, Berjasa, Muda, Putra and Iman.
These parties carried little political weight, he said.
“The reality is that these small parties have no real impact on Malaysian politics. Even if they join Bersatu, what can they offer? Their numbers are very small,” he said.
Mazlan said he was “almost certain” Bersatu would be in a weaker position without PAS than if the two parties worked together under PN.
“If this split really happens, non-Malay parties such as Gerakan and MIPP will certainly stay with Bersatu. It is unlikely they would align with PAS because its Islamic state ideology is not something that non-Malay parties, especially Gerakan, agree with.”
At the same time, Mazlan said several Malay-Muslim parties could instead align themselves with PAS.
“Parties such as Berjasa and Putra will almost certainly go with PAS. But Urimai, MAP, Iman and Muda may side with Muhyiddin.”
Mazlan said a split would not significantly affect hardcore supporters, who would remain loyal either to PAS or Bersatu.
However, he said fence-sitters could view such a development negatively.
“Voters may ask how a coalition that constantly talks about unity and Malay solidarity can end up splitting among itself,” he said.
He said the parties Faizal was referring to were likely smaller component and friendly parties, including Gerakan, MIPP, Urimai, the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP), Pejuang, Berjasa, Muda, Putra and Iman.
These parties carried little political weight, he said.
“The reality is that these small parties have no real impact on Malaysian politics. Even if they join Bersatu, what can they offer? Their numbers are very small,” he said.
Mazlan said he was “almost certain” Bersatu would be in a weaker position without PAS than if the two parties worked together under PN.
“If this split really happens, non-Malay parties such as Gerakan and MIPP will certainly stay with Bersatu. It is unlikely they would align with PAS because its Islamic state ideology is not something that non-Malay parties, especially Gerakan, agree with.”
At the same time, Mazlan said several Malay-Muslim parties could instead align themselves with PAS.
“Parties such as Berjasa and Putra will almost certainly go with PAS. But Urimai, MAP, Iman and Muda may side with Muhyiddin.”
Mazlan said a split would not significantly affect hardcore supporters, who would remain loyal either to PAS or Bersatu.
However, he said fence-sitters could view such a development negatively.
“Voters may ask how a coalition that constantly talks about unity and Malay solidarity can end up splitting among itself,” he said.
