BERSATU and PAS must make known their allies and rivals are before the general election, political observers said.

They told The Malaysian Insight that PAS should stay away from Umno if it wants Bersatu on its side, adding that the two parties must resolve the issue as soon as possible to avoid discontent among grassroots members.

Certain leaders in PAS have been pressing the Islamist party to consider accepting Umno as an ally. However, Umno has made it clear that it will stand alone in the elections.

Muhyiddin Yassin had said on Tuesday that PAS will be sticking with Perikatan Nasional after a meeting with the party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Universiti Malaya’s Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said PAS wishes to remain friendly with Umno because the Islamist party because it hopes to be in the government coalition should Barisan Nasional win the polls.

Meanwhile, he said, Bersatu is pinning its hopes on joining the Pakatan Harapan coalition should the latter win instead.

“Although Bersatu is not clear about its relationship with PH, it is hoping it could at least be accepted as an ally post-GE.

“What it should do is to make things clear. Who does it want (as an ally) ? Their grassroots members will get confused if they don’t make things clear,” said Awang Pawi.

Muhyiddin recently declared BN to be the enemy of PN in the general election and reminded the coalition members not to lose sight of this.

The Bersatu president urged each PN component to toe the party line.

“If we are committed, we, with more than 700,000 members, supported by PAS and Gerakan – both of which have about two million members – we can be a big political movement moving as one in the same direction,” he had said on the 6th anniversary of the party.

“We cannot let Bersatu say something, PAS say something else, and Gerakan say another thing. If we don’t show unity and it is not clear who our enemy is, we will lose.”

Muhyiddin said it is not important which seats PH or BN will contest.

“I don’t want to talk about PH. If Umno wants to contest all the seats, it is up to them.”

Muhyiddin’s speech was aimed at PAS, which wants to work with BN, especially Umno.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said PAS must choose between Umno and Bersatu.

“This is a test for Muhyiddin as the PN chairman must make sure PAS makes its stand clear on Umno. PAS is still seeking to work with Umno on the basis that Malay parties should unite.”

He said this was so even though Umno has stated that it will go it alone in the elections.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said last week that the door was still open to Umno as the two parties are not enemies.

PAS president Hadi is also reported to have met the Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Tuesday.

PN dilemma

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Dr Mazlan Ali said PAS is risking everything in trying to ally with Umno.

He said Bersatu has no choice but to make sure PAS stays in PN as it badly needs the base of the Islamist party.

“Umno chapters in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have made it clear that they do not want PAS as a partner. 

“Bersatu has no choice; if PAS leaves, the fomer will not have the capacity to challenge BN and PH. PAS has very strong grassroots and Bersatu needs that.”

“PN is thus in a dilemma. They need to solve this matter quickly, before the elections.”

Political author Mohd Sayuti Omar said the issue of rivalries can be resolved when the polls are over.

“PAS cannot be friends with PH because of DAP and Umno cannot accept Bersatu because of Muhyiddin. 

“But at the end of the day, if they are desperate, anything can happen. There is no right or wrong in politics.”

“Last time PAS called Umno a group of infidels but now it wants Umno. Both PAS and Bersatu are like a couple who is married in the day but who flirt with others at night,” he said. – September 29, 2022.