Political analysts say the cancellation of Perikatan Nasional’s registration erodes public confidence in the coalition’s ability to act as a stable alternative government.
KUALA LUMPUR: The revocation of Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) registration following its failure to resolve internal disputes could erode public confidence in the coalition’s ability to present itself as a stable and credible alternative government, political analysts said.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Datuk Profesor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the development went beyond a technical issue involving registration, exposing deeper problems of trust, leadership rivalry and inadequate mechanisms for resolving disputes among component parties.
He said voters assessed not only leaders’ popularity and political rhetoric, but also a coalition’s ability to manage differences, maintain stability and demonstrate its readiness to govern.
“When an opposition coalition fails to resolve internal disputes to the extent that the registration authorities have to intervene, voters may question whether it can manage the far more complex task of governing the country.
“Some core supporters may view this as a challenge that must be faced together. The impact on public support will therefore depend on how PN’s leadership manages the crisis, rather than on the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) decision alone,” he told Bernama.
Yesterday, RoS cancelled PN’s registration under subparagraph 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966 after finding that the coalition’s explanation had failed to rebut the grounds for revocation stated in a notice dated Sept 22.
The decision followed an internal dispute in PN after Bersatu lodged a formal complaint with RoS on Aug 11, alleging, among other things, that it had been denied the right to attend and participate in a PN Supreme Council meeting on July 16.
Following the decision, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the party’s complaint against the PAS-led PN leadership over the alleged denial of Bersatu’s rights at the meeting was justified, as the action had breached PN’s constitution and the principles of good governance.
Awang Azman said the revocation could also affect perceptions of PAS, particularly regarding its leadership’s integrity, respect for the coalition’s constitution and ability to manage a political alliance.
He said Bersatu’s complaint and the subsequent RoS action had raised questions about internal democracy, particularly over allegations that a component party had been denied its rights in the decision-making process. However, he noted that claims of PAS bearing full responsibility for the crisis remained disputed.
Awang Azman said the impact on voter perceptions could vary, with staunch PAS supporters likely to remain loyal because of their party identity and ideology, while fence-sitters might be more inclined to question the coalition’s governance credentials.
ILHAM Centre research fellow Mujibu Abd Muis shared a similar assessment, saying the crisis risked weakening confidence among voters who had backed PN in the hope of having a united opposition capable of providing political stability.
He said that while staunch PAS and Bersatu supporters might remain loyal to their respective parties, voters who prioritised stability and cooperation could question whether the two parties were capable of forming an effective government.
“The PN crisis risks undermining confidence in the opposition’s ability to form a stable government, although support for its component parties may not necessarily decline directly.
“This is an important distinction between loyalty to a party and confidence in a coalition’s ability to govern,” said Mujibu, a senior political science lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
He said prolonged internal disputes could also weaken the opposition’s ability to perform its check-and-balance role by disrupting coordination and diverting attention from issues affecting the people.
Mujibu said the opposition needed to demonstrate not only its ability to criticise the government, but also its capacity to offer credible leadership, organisational discipline and a shared agenda that could convince voters of its readiness to govern.