Amanah likely to go on the defensive in GE16, says analyst

 Awang Azman Pawi says the party faces structural disadvantages against PAS and must sharpen its progressive Islamic identity to retain Malay support.

Formed in 2015 by dissidents of PAS, Amanah positions itself as a moderate Islamic party within Pakatan Harapan. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Amanah is expected to adopt a defensive stance at the next general election with a focus on retaining its existing seats rather than seeking expansion, says a political analyst.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said any gains to be made by Amanah would be likely to depend on shifts among moderate Malay voters or weaknesses among opponents, particularly on issues of the economy and cost of living.

Amanah remains highly vulnerable in Malay-majority constituencies, he said, while PAS holds a structural advantage.

“It has strong grassroots machinery, a more ‘authentic’ religious narrative among traditional voters, and disciplined organisation. Amanah is often perceived as a ‘softer’ alternative with weaker emotional mobilisation,” he said.

Formed in 2015 by PAS dissidents, Amanah positions itself as a moderate Islamic party within Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Despite only having eight seats in the Dewan Rakyat, the party has two Cabinet ministers and two deputy ministers.

Its middle-of-the-road approach on Islamic and sensitive Malay issues has so far failed to attract the Malay-Muslim voters, whose support has shifted mainly to PAS and Bersatu.

Awang Azman said Amanah must sharpen its identity as a progressive Islamic party distinct from PAS, rather than just another PH component party.

“The key issue is the clarity of Amanah’s political narrative,” he said, adding that calls for leadership change should be approached cautiously as the party’s challenges go beyond individual personalities.

Mat Sabu and future leaders

He noted that party president Mohamad Sabu has kept Amanah relevant within the government through his credibility and cross-party networks, but said the party still lacked clear ideological differentiation among Malay voters.

In a similar vein, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali said Mohamad’s leadership remains necessary for now.

“If we look at his track record in PAS, he was a very strong and influential leader who could attract crowds and support,” he said.

However, Mazlan said that Amanah should begin preparing for a leadership transition.

“He is the backbone of the party, but I believe Amanah has a leadership transition plan where, at the right time, Mohamad will hand over leadership to a new generation to continue the party’s momentum in Malaysian politics,” he said. - FMT