Inspired by the shift in Chinese support from DAP to Warisan in last November’s Sabah election, Wawasan Negara seeks to replicate that success in the peninsula.
Wawasan is planning to do so by positioning itself as a moderate, multiracial party within the PAS-dominated Perikatan Nasional, which continues to unsettle non-Muslim voters.
Wawasan information chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said Wawasan was formed following discussions and consensus among PN’s top leadership, after some of its leaders had spent time outside their respective parties.
He added that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also endorsed the idea, recognising the need for a new multiracial party to complement PAS within the PN coalition.
“Malay voter support for PN has been proven since the 15th general election, but that support appears to have reached a certain level, requiring a new strategy if the coalition wants to form the government in Putrajaya.
“One of Hadi’s advice to (Wawasan president) Hamzah Zainudin was that a new party should be established to complement PAS within PN - a party that is multiracial and multiethnic,” Wan Fayhsal (above) was quoted as saying by Harakah.
At one point, PAS enjoyed significant support among non-Muslims when it was part of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition with DAP, which has since become its arch-nemesis.
The bitter political rivalry has also fuelled PAS’ push for greater unity among Malay-Muslim parties, ostensibly to safeguard Malay and Islamic interests from what it portrays as growing threats to their position, particularly from DAP.
DAP, in turn, accuses PAS of peddling a false narrative to sow fear among Malay voters.
Commenting on Warisan’s success in Sabah, where DAP lost all eight seats it contested, Wan Fayhsal conceded that the situation is different on the peninsula, as perceptions of PN and PAS remain a challenge among some Chinese and Indian voters.
“This creates a need for us to shift PN slightly towards the centre. We are already on the right; we want to move slightly towards the centre by having another component party that is multiracial in nature,” he added.
Youth and experience combined
The Machang MP claimed that Wawasan has managed to attract former Bersatu members and those from several other parties with its leadership line-up, which combined the experience of previous leaders with a new generation.
However, Wan Fayhsal, a former Bersatu leader, stressed that Wawasan was distinct from the party it broke away from, with its own character, identity, and political philosophy.
He said the party sought to reflect the character and spirit of the Federal Constitution by maintaining the position of Malays and Islam as the foundation of its leadership, while opening up membership and top leadership positions to non-Malays.
“Everyone can contest for the positions provided for in the constitution (of Wawasan), except the president. The president must be Malay and Muslim,” he explained.
Wan Fayhsal also praised his party president for playing an important role in strengthening ties between BN and PN.
PN-BN govt likely after GE16
According to him, Hamzah had experience serving as a bridge between Umno and PAS leaders, besides having previously worked as an operator for several national leaders.
Hamzah, he said, had also gone down to the ground with BN leaders to ensure cooperation at the grassroots level was genuinely taking shape.
On GE16, Wan Fayhsal said PN and BN have the potential to form the government if their cooperation formula could be maintained without major obstacles.
He also viewed the gap in public trust in the government as one of the factors that could influence the political landscape ahead of the next election.
He said that if PN and BN succeeded in forming the government, the victory should not merely be about returning to Putrajaya but should also be followed by efforts to resolve various outstanding national issues, including those involving Tabung Haji.
“I see PN and BN on a path that, God willing, if there are no obstacles, will see us successfully return to Putrajaya,” he said.
Hamzah launched Wawasan following his expulsion from former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu.
In its electoral debut in the Negeri Sembilan election, the party won three of the four seats it contested in contrast with Bersatu, which failed to win any of the 24 seats it contested. - Mkini
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