PN ‘on last legs’ amid PAS-Bersatu rift, say analysts

 An analyst says Bersatu, Gerakan and MIPP could eventually break away from PN if PAS continues tightening its grip on the coalition.

An alignment between Abdul Hadi Awang’s PAS and Hamzah Zainudin’s Reset movement could see Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu marginalised, says an analyst.

PETALING JAYA:

Perikatan Nasional may be “on its last legs” due to the escalating feud between PAS and Bersatu, according to analysts.

Mazlan Ali.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the dispute had become increasingly serious over the past year, citing tensions in Perlis and Negeri Sembilan.

“This serious dispute between PAS and Bersatu will lead to a direct split,” he told FMT.

Mazlan said PAS appears to be recalibrating its political strategy around former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and the Reset movement linked to him.

“I think there is a possibility that Reset will replace Bersatu as PAS’s main partner in PN,” he said, adding that Bersatu could eventually be sidelined ahead of the next general election.

Last week, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party was reassessing ties with Bersatu, citing several disagreements involving Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Kedah and Kelantan.

Bersatu later responded by expressing regret over Hadi’s remarks, saying coalition matters should be resolved through PN’s Supreme Council.

Mazlan said PAS has emerged as the dominant force in PN because of its grassroots machinery and parliamentary strength.

“PAS is the big brother in PN,” he said.

He said Hadi’s decision to publicly criticise Bersatu instead of discussing the matter internally showed PAS was confident it could survive without Bersatu.

PAS also appears less interested in strengthening ties with PN’s non-Malay component parties, including Gerakan and Malaysian Indian People’s Party, said Mazlan.

“PAS is more comfortable with the Malay-Muslim narrative because it allows the party to maintain its power base in Malay-majority areas,” he said.

Mazlan said an alignment between PAS and Hamzah could see Muhyiddin Yassin marginalised.

He said Bersatu could then form a separate bloc with Gerakan and MIPP, contest independently, or seek cooperation with either Pakatan Harapan or Barisan Nasional.

Azmi Hassan.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also sees Hadi’s open criticism of Bersatu as a serious development.

“I think the end game for PAS is that they just want to get rid of Bersatu,” he said.

Azmi said PAS wants to open PN to smaller Malay-Muslim parties, while Bersatu opposes new membership out of concern that Hamzah could return through a different platform.

He also said PAS’s growing dominance in PN could create unease among non-Malay voters and component parties.

“I think Gerakan and MIPP know this,” he said. - FMT