A LOSS for Bersatu in the coming general election could end the party, with members leaving for other Malay parties, Umno Supreme Councillor Isham Jalil said.

He said a poor run for Bersatu will also see the end of Perikatan Nasional.

“I’m not looking down on them (Bersatu), but looking at the current trend, I don’t think the people will support party-hoppers,” Isham was quoted as saying in Free Malaysia Today.

He said Umno may allow former Umno members in Bersatu to return. 

“Perhaps they will realise that they must dissolve their party to return,” he added.

Bersatu was founded by former Umno leaders Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin to stand against Umno.

It entered into coalition with DAP and PKR in the 2018 general election and afterwards bolstered its numbers by taking in Umno MPs.

Most of the Bersatu leaders and lawmakers are from Umno.

Bersatu caused the PH government to fall after just 22 months by withdrawing from the pact. It subsequently worked with PAS and Umno to form a Malay government.

While its relationship with Umno was always thorny, Bersatu went on to form a strong partnership with PAS.

“There are many in PN who are party-hoppers – from Umno, from Pakatan Harapan – so they will face problems (because) they (now only have the option of going next to) PAS,” Isham said.

Isham said that PAS had lost in the Malacca and Johor elections while in Perikatan Nasional.

A loss in GE15 could see the Islamist party ditch Bersatu, Isham predicted.

“If Bersatu loses many seats this time around, PAS will see that it is tainted by its association with those who have betrayed (the people’s mandate) and end the alliance.”

When that happens, he said, Bersatu could break up and its members rejoin Umno.

“And if they do not like Umno, they can join PAS,” he said.

Isham said there were too many Malay parties, suggesting that Umno or PAS absorb the smallert ones for the sake of Malay unity. – October 16, 2022.