Experts: It could be gloves off between Pas and Bersatu in Melaka [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Open hostility between Pas and Bersatu could play out in the Melaka polls, now that the deregistration of Perikatan Nasional has removed the last thing holding the former partners back.

International Islamic University Malaysia political scientist Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said the two parties had previously held back from conflict.

"They've already clashed in Johor and Negri Sembilan, but previously, they were trying to defend their cooperation in PN.

"Pas has been clear about not working with Bersatu. So now, Bersatu can retaliate," she said.

She said Bersatu stood to lose the most as its logo was less known to voters.

"We always hear that voters on the ground don't know Bersatu's logo. During the Negri Sembilan election, people were asking what the party with the bunga raya logo was."

Fence-sitters, however, were unlikely to be thrown by PN's absence, as they could still identify with Pas, she said.

"It might be confusing, because they may be looking for the main coalitions: Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and PN. But when they see Pas, I think they can connect the dots," she said.

Meanwhile, Institute for Democracy and Economic
Affairs chief executive officer Aira Azhari said Pas would need allies to stay competitive in Melaka and avoid splitting the Malay vote.

"Electorally, they do not have a history of performing well in Melaka, so they will need to form some kind of pact."

She said while Pas' well-recognised brand gave it an edge over its former partners, going solo would cost it non-Malay support.

"Pas running on its own means it is very unlikely to get non-Malay votes."

Aira said the deregistration might push Pas, Bersatu, Wawasan and Gerakan to recalibrate, either by forming a new coalition or alliances with each other.

However, Syaza said the move could be a blessing in disguise in that it would allow all parties to start afresh.

She said smaller parties such as Wawasan, Pejuang and possibly Gerakan could even thrive by contesting under the Pas logo, much like PH's component parties did under PKR's logo in the 2018 General Election.

"Of course, a registered coalition is better for future planning, especially when it comes to the leadership issue, which, ironically, is what brought down PN."

The Melaka assembly was dissolved on Sept 23 and polls will be held on Nov 14.

PN, formed in 2020 in the wake of the Sheraton Move, had its registration cancelled under subparagraph 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966.

The Registry of Societies said the coalition's representations on Oct 12 failed to refute the grounds for cancellation set out in its Sept 22 notice.