PAS will play a more prominent national role should Muafakat Nasional form the next government, with senior ministerial positions and control of more states, said a political analyst.

But a Muafakat Nasional government can only be realised at the 15th general election if the pact wins federal power. An electoral pact could see PAS and Umno securing more than 90 seats. At present, both control 57 seats.

Such a large parliamentary bloc would mean that any future government would have to include Umno and PAS as dominant partners, said analysts at a webinar titled Umno at the crossroads: Implications for Malaysian politics, organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Political analyst Mazri Muhammad dismissed suggestions that Umno and PAS will face problems in the allocation of seats as they have always contested the same seats.

“After the last general election, the barrier between Umno and PAS was torn down because they believe that it does not make sense for them to continue their disagreement which began in 1951,” said Mazri, a former special officer to ex-prime minister Najib Razak from 2009 to 2013.

Former Umno president Najib and current PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang have also nurtured warmer ties in the last 10 years, said Mazri, who was also the deputy chief of Najib’s policy and research division.

“I don’t see a problem in seat allocation. I see now that after PAS has power in the federal government, they do not want to be a junior partner any more,” said Mazri.

“They will want to be co-partners and this must be reflected in seat allocations. They will want equal say. PAS will want the deputy prime minister’s post and several senior ministries to reflect its standing,” Mazri said.

“They will want ministries and positions in government where they can influence the future development of Malaysian society.”

The overarching aim of creating the first Malay-Muslim-dominant government at the federal level will ease differences between the two parties.

“It is easier for Umno and PAS as the overarching aim is political power at the state and federal levels. For the first time ever, any government will be one dominated by a Malay-Muslim majority.”

Some states will go to PAS such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, while Pahang, Johor and Perak will remain in Umno’s hands.

The Islamist party will also want to contest in states it feels it needs to have a strong foothold, such as Selangor and Johor, Mazri added. – June 5, 2020.