Bersatu’s new coalition needs big ally to make waves, says analyst

 To establish itself as a credible electoral force and viable alternative for Malaysians, it must be more than a collection of smaller parties.

Bersatu currently remains a coalition partner in Perikatan Nasional, but has had a falling out with PAS.

PETALING JAYA:

Bersatu’s plan to form a new coalition after the Negeri Sembilan polls will struggle to gain traction unless it secures the backing of a major political party, says an analyst.

Syaza Shukri.

Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Bersatu needs more than a collection of smaller parties as partners if it hoped to establish the coalition as a credible electoral force and viable alternative for Malaysians.

“To be really successful, it needs at least another big-name party, and I don’t think there’s any at the moment that would team up with Bersatu,” she told FMT.

Plans for a new political alliance were announced two weeks ago by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who said he would seek partners such as Putra, led by Ibrahim Ali, and P Ramasamy’s Urimai.

Bersatu is currently a coaliltion partner with PAS, Gerakan and MIPP in Perikatan Nasional. However, Bersatu and PAS have had a falling out, and Muhyiddin – hinting at a PN exit – said the coalition had become toxic with PAS at the helm.

Syaza said Muhyiddin’s proposed new coalition would also face the challenge of carving out a distinct political identity in an already crowded landscape.

“I think the only winning narrative for now is that Bersatu would be the only party so far that has held strong against working with BN as Pakatan Harapan and PAS, despite calling out Barisan Nasional’s corruption, are both partners with BN at different levels.

“So the winning narrative could be they are the ones serious about fighting the BN establishment.” However, Syaza questioned whether that alone would be enough, as the Bersatu-led coalition would occupy a similar ideological space as existing right-leaning blocs.

Bersatu could find it difficult to retain its traditional Malay base if Umno and PAS continued to work together, although Muhyiddin’s alliance could still attract Malays unhappy with that cooperation.

She said the new coalition would struggle to make inroads among Chinese voters, who tend to vote strategically, but said Indian voters could prove more receptive as they have yet to find a party they strongly identify with.

Syaza added that Muda would be the most logical partner for Muhyiddin to rope in given its involvement in the former prime minister’s loose Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat alliance. However, she questioned whether Muda and other left-leaning parties like Parti Bersama Malaysia led by Rafizi Ramli and Parti Sosialis Malaysia could justify joining forces with Bersatu and Putra.

Muhyiddin’s national presence

Mazlan Ali.

On the other hand, political scientist Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Muhyiddin remained a significant national figure and could help the new coalition make waves.

Mazlan said PN’s initial appeal had stemmed more from Muhyiddin’s image than the Malay-Muslim narrative of PAS.

Parties such as Muda, Bersama and PSM were likely to be stronger as component parties in a larger Bersatu-led coalition, he said, suggesting that the new alliance focus on bread-and-butter issues while remaining open to cooperation with multiracial parties. - FMT