PETALING JAYA, JULY 3 — Political observers believe PAS is deliberately maintaining a calculated and flexible relationship with Bersatu, rather than fully breaking away from its Perikatan Nasional (PN) partner ahead of key state elections.
According to The Asia Group’s Associate Vice President Asrul Sani, PAS appears to be balancing political messaging with electoral strategy. While the party has occasionally distanced itself rhetorically from Bersatu, it is not rushing into a formal split.
“PAS is separating rhetoric from election strategy. They want the political benefits of distancing themselves from Bersatu without facing the full consequences of a complete break,” he said.
Asrul added that PAS has become the dominant force within PN, with stronger grassroots machinery and electoral organisation, particularly in Malay-majority areas. However, Bersatu still plays an important role in attracting segments of Malay voters who may be reluctant to support PAS directly.
“This makes Bersatu still useful in several seats, even though the relationship is increasingly strained,” he said.
He noted that maintaining Bersatu as an ally also gives PAS flexibility to renegotiate political alignments after the Johor state election, ahead of the next general election.
At a recent PAS Central Committee meeting, the party stopped short of making a firm decision on its ties with Bersatu, contrary to expectations that a clearer stance would be announced regarding cooperation within PN in Johor. Instead, PAS reiterated its focus on defending “Malay-Muslim political power” and urged voters not to support Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Meanwhile, Singapore Institute of International Affairs analyst Oh Ei Sun said the PAS-Bersatu dynamic in Johor remains complex, especially given Bersatu’s stronger position in the southern state.
He noted that Johor is the political base of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who previously served as menteri besar for nine years, making PAS more dependent on Bersatu’s ground strength in the state.
“As a result, PAS cannot afford to alienate Bersatu before the election. Any major realignment is more likely to happen after the Johor polls,” he said.
Oh added that a full break between PAS and Bersatu could split the Malay vote, potentially benefiting Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, Asrul suggested that the true test of the PAS-Bersatu relationship may come in the Negeri Sembilan state election, where the National Vision Party led by Hamzah Zainudin is expected to make its debut.
He said that if the new party manages to gain traction with PAS support, Bersatu could find itself sidelined within the opposition bloc. Conversely, if Bersatu remains competitive, PAS is likely to continue managing the partnership despite ongoing tensions.
— MINUTESMY
— SOURCE: FMT
