Pas' move to prioritise Umno, BN signals intent, not electoral realignment, says analyst

KUALA LUMPUR: Pas' decision to prioritise Umno and Barisan Nasional in negotiations for the next general election signals a willingness to explore closer cooperation, but does not yet indicate a new electoral alliance is taking shape, says a political analyst.

Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Tawfik Yaakub said the decision by Pas' Syura Council gave the party's central leadership room to pursue talks with Umno and BN while potentially strengthening its bargaining position with other political parties.

"This is a meaningful signal of strategic intent, but it is not yet evidence of a settled electoral realignment.

"Whether it represents a genuine shift will depend on whether both sides move from statements to concrete discussions on seats, leadership and a shared policy platform," he said.

Yesterday, Pas spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin said the party would prioritise Umno and BN over other political parties in negotiations for the next general election.

Hashim said the decision was made at a recent Syura Council meeting he chaired, which mandated the party's central leadership to negotiate with any party, with Umno given priority.

He said the council recognised that bringing Pas and Umno together would not be easy and that the opportunity should be fully utilised.

Hashim added that Pas was more comfortable cooperating with Umno than with other parties, noting that the people wanted unity between the two Malay-Muslim parties.

He also said the unity must be built on the interests of the Malays and Islam rather than political considerations.

Asked whether the decision could create unease within Perikatan Nasional, Tawfik said it could, particularly if Umno was treated as Pas's preferred partner without clear consultation with other component parties.

"The challenge for Pas will be to pursue talks with Umno without weakening trust among its existing partners," he said.

On the possibility of a renewed Pas-Umno arrangement, Tawfik said such cooperation was possible but would require substantial compromises to remain viable.

"Both parties would need to reach agreement on seat allocation, candidate selection, leadership arrangements and the terms of any post-election cooperation, while addressing longstanding issues of trust and political rivalry.

"They would also need to demonstrate that the partnership was based on more than a temporary electoral bargain," he said.

Tawfik said cooperation between the two parties could reduce competition for Malay-Muslim votes in certain constituencies, but would not automatically consolidate those voters behind a single alliance.

"Supporters may have different priorities and may not accept every compromise made by their party leadership," he said.

He added that the arrangement could also create divisions within the parties and raise questions among BN's non-Malay partners and voters about the coalition's political direction.

On which party stood to gain more from the proposed cooperation, Tawfik said Pas could gain more immediate political leverage by using the prospect of an alliance to strengthen its negotiating position.

Umno, meanwhile, could benefit from access to Pas's support base and an opportunity to rebuild its political relevance, although it risked being perceived as the junior partner.

"The eventual balance of gains will depend on the seat-sharing formula, the leadership arrangement and each party's ability to retain its own identity and supporters," he said.