PN collapse could pave way for PAS-Umno cooperation, analysts say
PETALING JAYA: The collapse of Perikatan Nasional (PN) could give PAS a chance to break free from its strained partnership with Bersatu and pursue a new political arrangement with Umno and Wawasan, potentially reshaping opposition cooperation ahead of the Malacca election.
Political analysts said PN’s deregistration need not spell the end of opposition cooperation, but could accelerate a realignment among Malay-Muslim parties, with the coming polls providing an early test of whether calls for unity could translate into electoral cooperation.
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International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Syaza Shukri said the development offers PAS an opportunity to move beyond its troubled partnership with Bersatu and explore a different formula for cooperation.
“I think actually this is a blessing in disguise. I do think PN has outlived its usefulness because it started as PAS-Bersatu. So, this gives PAS the opportunity to move forward without having to deal with the question of Bersatu.”
She said establishing another formal coalition could prove difficult given competing political ambitions, making a looser arrangement among the parties a more practical option.
She suggested Wawasan could serve as a bridge between PAS and smaller parties such as Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).
With PAS, Umno and Wawasan signalling openness to cooperation, she said the Malacca election presents an opportunity for the parties to demonstrate whether their long-standing calls for Malay-Muslim political unity could lead to meaningful electoral collaboration.
“Over time, I do not think they could formalise this cooperation, mainly due to leadership rivalries.”
The collapse of PN also raises questions about the future of its smaller partners, particularly Gerakan and MIPP, which must decide whether to align themselves with PAS or Bersatu.
Syaza said joining PAS would allow both parties to benefit from its electoral momentum, although such an association carries political risks.
Aligning with Bersatu could offer them an opportunity to promote a more inclusive political narrative, but with weaker prospects of electoral success, she added.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan offered a different perspective, arguing that PN’s deregistration could strengthen Barisan Nasional’s (BN) bargaining position by allowing Umno to negotiate directly with PAS instead of dealing with the opposition coalition as a whole.
He said this would spare BN the complications of accommodating Wawasan and other former PN partners in seat negotiations, leaving PAS to determine how to distribute any constituencies allocated to it.
“I think PN’s deregistration is a huge advantage to BN because they want to deal only with PAS, not PN as a whole. So, it is a positive development for BN.”
Azmi said the immediate electoral impact on PAS and Wawasan in Malacca would likely be limited, with the loss of PN’s familiar electoral logo posing the more pressing challenge.
He suggested that Wawasan could potentially contest under the PAS banner, although the Islamist party’s image might be less appealing to some voters than PN’s broader coalition identity.
Nevertheless, he said the parties could continue working together without a formally registered coalition, particularly if negotiations with Umno move forward.
Azmi emphasised that the Malacca election would provide an early indication of whether PAS, Wawasan, Gerakan and MIPP could establish a replacement political vehicle or cooperate through a less formal arrangement.
Syaza likewise said PN’s deregistration would not necessarily undermine the opposition’s electoral prospects, noting that most of its component parties have developed working relationships independently of Bersatu.