Analysts say the opposition party should allow voters to judge its economic vision for Malaysia against its record in Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said PAS MPs should play a more assertive role by scrutinising the budget and presenting arguments based on facts, research and alternative proposals.
He said this was especially important since PAS forms the largest single bloc in the Dewan Rakyat and makes up the dominant voice of the opposition.
“PAS MPs must show the public they can offer policies and approaches that are better than the unity government’s,” he told FMT, adding that the party could strengthen its arguments by pointing to its achievements in the SG4 states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu.
Mazlan said PAS could also use the opportunity to outline the constraints faced by the four state governments in areas reliant on federal allocations, approvals and national investment policy.
His comments follow Bachok MP Syahir Sulaiman’s call for the government to address seven economic realities in Budget 2027, including limited fiscal space, cost-of-living pressures, job losses, low wages, pressure on small businesses and youth reliance on gig work.
Syahir said the economic headline indicators — including the 6% growth in the second quarter, a stronger ringgit and RM218.5 billion in approved investments in the first half of this year — have yet to translate into better living standards for ordinary Malaysians.
For Mazlan, such concerns would carry greater weight if PAS articulated what it would do differently at the national level.
“As the largest party in Parliament, PAS certainly needs to have a clear economic agenda for the national economy.
“This is because PAS has the potential to form the government in the future,” he said.
SG4 as test case
The SG4 bloc comprises 5.7 million people across 32 districts, with Kedah focusing on semiconductors and electrical and electronics, Terengganu on energy and petrochemicals, Kelantan serving as a cross-border gateway, and Perlis leveraging border trade and solar energy.
Economist Harridon Suffian of Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School described the economic performance of PAS-led states as mixed, with notable achievements in some areas but uneven progress across the bloc.
Terengganu, he said, offered one example of a more developed state-level economic vehicle through Terengganu Incorporated, which has diversified into plantations, healthcare, property and hospitality.
Meanwhile, its subsidiary, Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Bhd, has established a foothold in oil and gas and marine services, recording RM411.9 million in revenue last year.
Kedah also has strong potential through Kulim Hi-Tech Park, which has attracted major investors such as Intel, Infineon Technologies and Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik.
However, Harridon noted that Kelantan and Perlis still need stronger measures to attract investors and broaden their economic base.
“There should be a consistent effort by each PAS-governed state to enhance SG4’s overall economic vibrancy.
“The SG4 states need stronger economic linkages in order to tap into spillover effects from the faster-growing regions,” he said.
If successful, he said, the SG4 model would strengthen PAS’s case that it can deliver more equitable development, including in states with fewer resources or weaker investor appeal.
Mazlan said PAS’s influence, especially among Malay voters, gives it a platform to be heard on economic issues.
However, its credibility, he said, would depend on whether it could move from criticism to a national plan that voters can judge against its SG4 record. - FMT
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