PAS battle with Umno now inevitable, says analyst

 

Political analysts Awang Azman Pawi and Azmi Hassan speak on the future of Umno-PAS relations.

PETALING JAYA: A battle between Umno and PAS for votes and public support is now inevitable after Umno’s withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, says an analyst.

Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi said PAS had pledged its undivided support for Muhyiddin. “The conflict between Umno and Bersatu is expected to escalate after the state of emergency ends on Aug 1, so it is inevitable that PAS and Umno will fight,” he said.

Azman said PAS’ decision to stand by Muhyiddin would be viewed as the party ditching Umno and Muafakat Nasional, as PAS appeared to be more comfortable with Muhyiddin’s Bersatu.

“However if Umno is not united in upholding the party’s stand, its leaders, particularly those who go against the party’s decision, will be punished by the grassroots. This could affect Umno’s performance in the next general election,” Azman said.

He said he believes PAS will continue to support Muhyiddin so long as Muhyiddin was in power, although this could change once Parliament is dissolved.

Umno’s decision not to back Muhyiddin was criticised by PAS spiritual adviser Hashim Jasin who said it had derailed efforts to unite the ummah (Islamic community) and that it would affect ties between the two Muafakat Nasional partners.

However, Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi hit back saying that if PAS was serious about unity it would not have gone behind Umno’s back to join Perikatan Nasional, led by Bersatu.

Another analyst, Azmi Hassan, said he did not agree that Umno was destroying the unity of the Islamic community.

Azmi, a former lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, said by-election results showed that Umno and PAS had done well under the Muafakat Nasional banner.

“To say that Umno is destroying the unity of the ummah (the Islamic community) is not quite right, since PAS must have known all along that Umno and Bersatu are natural enemies with the same voters and seat claims.”

He said he does not believe that PAS’ decision to remain with Perikatan Nasional would cost them any votes, but they would lose support because of the poor performance of its ministers and deputy ministers in the government.

“PAS ministers and deputy ministers have been very quiet, I think this will cost them votes.”

Azmi added he believes PAS will stick with Bersatu at the next general election, though this poses a big risk to them as it means going head-to-head with Umno, its most formidable opponent. - FMT