NS dispute leaves Melaka PAS-Umno pact intact, says analyst

The royal and customary crisis in Negeri Sembilan has had no bearing on PAS’s efforts to work with Umno in the Melaka state election, despite the potential political fallout for both parties, says an analyst.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia pointed to PAS’s willingness to work with Umno in Melaka, including its readiness to use the Barisan Nasional (BN) logo, as proof.

“It (PAS) still sees cooperation with Umno as important and is not trying to distance itself,” he told FMT.

He said voters were not uniformly blaming BN or Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the crisis, with views differing between urban and rural voters as well as among fence-sitters.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said differing views on the crisis did not necessarily mean the BN-PN relationship would fracture.

“Umno has room to explain its position and responsibilities openly without dismissing differing views among its partners,” he said.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said PAS and BN had reached an agreement in principle to cooperate in the Nov 14 Melaka state election. However, seat allocation and candidate selection were still being discussed.

PAS’s Serting assemblyman Fairuz Isa was a member of the Negeri Sembilan state executive council under Ismail Lasim.

His appointment and those of nine other exco members were revoked on Sept 21 by Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir after they declared his removal in April legitimate and recognised Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar as the new ruler.