Despite ‘Malay unity’ brand, MN a direct threat to Bersatu

 UM’s Awang Azman Pawi says Bersatu will be squeezed out of Malay seats as it has long depended on Umno and PAS being at odds with each other.

Bersatu also lacks the depth in party structure that Umno and PAS enjoy, said political analyst Awang Azman Pawi of UM.

PETALING JAYA:

Although branded as a political platform to build Malay-Muslim unity, a revival of the Muafakat Nasional pact between PAS and Umno presents a direct challenge to Bersatu’s relevance, says an analyst.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said a revival of the alliance between Umno and PAS will squeeze Bersatu out of Malay-majority seats.

He also said Bersatu lacks the structural depth long established in Umno and PAS – both much older parties – while the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party has heavily depended on both parties being enemies.

“If Umno and PAS revive their alliance, Bersatu will be caught in the middle.

“In Malay seats, voters will ask: why should I vote for Bersatu when Umno carries the traditional Malay identity and PAS carries the political Islam identity?” he told FMT.

PAS central committee member Annuar Musa had proposed a seat allocation formula whereby Umno could contest 80-90% of Malay-majority seats in Johor, with PAS taking the remaining 10-20%.

In a quid pro quo, Annuar said PAS could allocate 10-20% of Malay seats in Kelantan to Umno. The former Umno secretary-general said there must be a give and take approach between both parties for the MN pact to work.

Awang Azman said Annuar’s formula could restore Umno’s standing as the dominant party representing the Malays while PAS could become a strategic partner.

On the other hand, Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia believed that PAS stood to gain more from a revival of the MN pact.

Bersatu will end up the biggest loser regardless, he said.

In the 2018 general election, Bersatu won 13 seats after contesting as a Pakatan Harapan component, while Umno and PAS clashed at the polls.

After triggering the collapse of the PH-led government by quitting the coalition and forming Perikatan Nasional with PAS, Bersatu went on to win 31 seats in the 2022 general election with the Islamic party as a key ally.

Umno, on the other hand, only won 26, its worst haul of seats in a general election so far. - FMT