PAS said the Malacca elections is a showcase of how the three Malay-based parties – Bersatu, Umno and itself – need to be united, but analysts believe the Islamist party is just hedging its bets as it is too weak to stand on its own.

PAS grassroots leaders said the trio must pull together ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15), and that the Malacca elections will make Umno realise that it takes all three parties to stop Pakatan Harapan (PH) from returning to federal power.

The upcoming polls will also prove to Umno whether Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the leader it needs, said Machang PAS treasurer Abdul Ariffahmi Abd Rahman.

He told The Malaysian Insight: “We have to thank fate that Malacca happened before GE15. The state elections will show who is needed.”

“Umno may have to take steps to remove Zahid and replace him with a leader who is more flexible and open to cooperation.”

Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional (PN) will contest all 28 state seats in the Malacca elections. With PH also joining the fray, three-cornered fights are a minimum guarantee in all seats.

PAS – a PN member – is expected to face Umno in seven seats, while Bersatu is expected to face Umno in 12 seats. Candidates will be confirmed after the filing of nominations today.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had previously said three-cornered fights could have been avoided, and blamed Umno for opting to not work with the coalition in the upcoming polls although both parties are part of the federal government.

Terengganu PAS deputy secretary Hanafiah Mat said party members and supporters agree with the decision to stick with Bersatu and PN.

“If the leaders say we go right, we go right; if they say go left, we go left. The ones who are confused are outside (of PAS).”

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had in his speech at the party’s muktamar on Saturday affirmed that the party will support PN if there is a contest between Bersatu and Umno.

Political analyst Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said despite what PAS may say of Umno, its leaders know that the party does not have strong support in Malacca.

He also said it is too early to use the results of the state elections to determine the party’s future direction in the run-up to GE15.

PAS may even try to return to Umno by riding on Malay-Muslim sentiments, he added.

“This depends on whether Umno is willing to accept PAS as its ally, again. Both parties have their own traditional strongholds and they can easily co-exist,” said the International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer.

“Bersatu on its own is weak and needs PAS to help it bag Malay votes.”

Political observer James Chin said PAS is playing the role of decider, as Malay votes will be split between Bersatu and Umno.

“Hadi’s policy is to protect the interest of PAS with both parties. He is trying to propel PAS to greater heights, perhaps towards the national level,” said the University of Tasmania Asian Studies professor.

He said PAS’ future relies on Malay votes, “if the votes are split, the party is lucky; but if they are not split, then the party will suffer losses”.

The Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia senior fellow sees Hadi’s speech at the muktamar as a means to boost the spirits of members who feel that the party is not important as it is not the primary choice among urban Malays and non-Malays. – November 8, 2021.