PAS is expected to continue holding power in Kelantan after the next general election (GE15) due to the absence of strong opposition in the state, said a political analyst.
Mazlan Ali believes that the Islamist party will keep its grip on the state due to several factors.
He said that while PAS seems to be unstable at the federal level, the reality of politics in Kelantan would see the party continue to be the choice to lead the state government.
One of the factors was the opposition's weakness in its ability to pose a significant challenge to PAS in the state.
"Unless Pakatan Harapan starts working together with Umno and has a straight fight against PAS in GE15. But the chance to see this is slim.
"Umno itself is not out of the woods yet. Although Umno seems to have regained its strength, its victory in the Malacca state election was only due to the low voter turnout. There was no increase in popular votes for Umno in the state.
"Besides, Umno is also facing internal issues, like the rivalry between the groups called court cluster and cabinet cluster in the party, and the culture of sabotaging each other in Kelantan Umno that has never seen an end," Mazlan said.
PAS seen as more genuine in building the ummah
Malaysiakini had contacted Mazlan, a senior lecturer at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, to get his opinion on PAS' ability to defend the Kelantan state government in the current political situation.
Elaborating further, he said the federal government led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was seen as weak, facing many issues that have courted public anger.
Mazlan cited several incidents as examples, including the acquittal of several Umno leaders who were facing corruption charges, fresh issues about corruption that can be played up by the opposition and the perception that Putrajaya has failed in handling the recent floods.
In other words, he added, the people's negative perception of Umno is not over.
"Based on the political situation, PAS has built a relationship with Bersatu in Perikatan Nasional. In the Malacca state election, votes for PAS candidates also increased due to PN.
"So, it is not impossible for PAS to see a surge in support from this cooperation (with PN). PAS may be seen as the more genuine party in terms of building the ummah compared to Umno," he said.
Besides, Mazlan added, the political culture among Kelantanese was also more traditional, district-centric and along the line of Islam.
He said that while development is also important, it is not everything to Kelantan Malay politics.
"They want a balance between development and being safe in the afterlife by being led by religious figures from an Islamic party.
"They want a leadership that is humble, morally strong and based on religion. Thus, to the majority of Kelantanese, they do not see Umno as an alternative to PAS, which has been in power for the past 32 years," he said.
Asked whether PAS being in the federal government would be a major factor in the next general election, Mazlan said he does not see that would be the case.
"I do not see that as an advantage. Even the (oil) royalties that were given (to Kelantan) by the Harapan government were stopped by a federal government that includes PAS.
"So far, there has not been any significant development in Kelantan. The two-lane highway is only at the border area (in Gua Musang).
"But I think the Kelantan voters would continue to see PAS in a positive light," he added. - Mkini
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