Analyst sees PAS ditching Bersatu for Hamzah’s ‘Reset’ bloc in Melaka polls

 UTM's Mazlan Ali says the Islamic party’s 16-seat target suggests a recalibration within PN amid waning confidence in Bersatu.

Melaka PAS, led by Zulkifli Ismail, says it will contest 16 of the 28 seats up for grabs in the next state election, from eight in 2021. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 PAS’s plan to contest 16 seats in the upcoming Melaka state election signals a shift away from Bersatu towards a bloc aligned with former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, according to an analyst.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali said ties between PAS and Bersatu have grown increasingly strained, citing the prolonged impasse over the Perikatan Nasional chairmanship and continuing disputes over the opposition leader’s post.

He said PAS’s decision to double the number of seats it contested in the 2021 Melaka polls – from eight to 16 – suggests that the Islamic party is giving less weight to Bersatu and positioning itself closer to Hamzah’s “Reset” bloc.

“This move in Melaka is the beginning of PAS simulating its new political relationships within the opposition context,” he told FMT.

Earlier this week, Melaka PAS chief Zulkifli Ismail announced that the party will contest 16 of the 28 seats in the state election, all but one of which are currently held by Barisan Nasional.

In the 2021 Melaka polls, PAS contested eight seats under the PN banner, while Bersatu vied for 15, and Gerakan five.

PN won two seats through Bersatu’s Dr Yadzil Yaakub and Dr Aleef Yusof, but Yadzil was sacked by the party in February, while Aleef had publicly backed Hamzah before later returning his support to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Hamzah’s bloc of supporters in Melaka includes other influential figures, such as three‑term Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and former chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik.

Mazlan said PAS’s decision to expand into seats previously contested by Bersatu signalled a loss of confidence in Muhyiddin’s leadership.

He also pointed to PAS’s refusal to heed calls to expedite replacing Hamzah as the opposition leader.

“It seems like PAS isn’t entertaining Muhyiddin’s request (to name a new opposition leader quickly),” he said.

Although reports suggest Hamzah had resigned from the post on April 12, he remains the opposition leader, with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul saying he has yet to receive formal notification of the resignation from the Larut MP.

Mazlan said PAS now views Hamzah as more influential, citing support from 13 of Bersatu’s existing 19 MPs.

“Only six support Muhyiddin. That is why PAS sees Hamzah, not Bersatu, as the hope for a future coalition,” he said.

He said PAS, as PN’s largest party, could reshape the opposition coalition, with Bersatu potentially sidelined.

Hamzah was sacked from Bersatu in February and has since been pushing his “Reset” movement. He has indicated that this movement could contest in the Melaka state election.

PAS taking big risk

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also believes PAS is moving to align with Hamzah’s “Reset” movement in place of Bersatu.

However, he warned that any such move would come with major risks given Umno’s continued strength in Melaka. Failure could hurt both PAS and Hamzah politically, he said.

“I think PAS is making a strategic mistake by choosing Hamzah’s movement, which is untested in terms of strength in Melaka,” he said.

The Melaka assembly dissolves automatically in December, which means the 16th state election must be held by February 2027 at the latest.

Chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh has said the polls were likely to be held this year. - FMT