ISLAMIST party PAS stands to benefit in the next general election as a result of disunity in Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, Daim Zainuddin said.

He said parties in Pakatan Harapan are likely to lose some seats.

“The opposition cannot get a majority as DAP will lose some seats while PKR will lose more.”

“As for Pejuang, I think it is finished, and Bersatu too.”

“If we are not careful, PAS will get more seats,” said the 84-year-old former finance minister at his office in Menara Ilham in a recent interview.

He said although PH lost the government in 2020, it has not changed.

“Even until today, they have not changed. The opposition is divided. And this will continue for 10 years if we are not careful.”

The disunity in PH and Umno will push Malay voters towards PAS, he added.

PH, which consists of PKR, DAP, Amanah and Upko, cannot agree to enter a grand coalition like it did in the 2018 election, while Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob are fighting over control of the party.

Daim said PAS and its version Islam appeals to the Malays because when Malay voters are uncertain, they tend to err on the side of religion.

“As the Malays get older, they will begin to think of Allah and how PAS is their salvation,” said the Kedahan.

Voters from the Malay-belt states of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang are a good vote bank for conservative parties, Daim said. And that this benefits PAS.

Having known PAS since the 1960s, when he got his first glimpse of politics as a young lawyer from Kedah, Daim said the Islamists have changed after tasting power as a member of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition.

“This is not the same PAS I knew in the 1960s. This is a PAS that wants power as they have tasted power.”

“I’m still close to them but I say no (to them taking over the country). That’s why we need a new generation,” said the retired businessman.

On his old party Umno, Daim said the party believes it can win more than half of the 165 seats in Peninsular Malaysia.

“Some Umno analysts believe they can win up to 85 seats. But that means they will need Sabah and Sarawak.” – July 11, 2022.