Umno’s turncoat approach risks eroding partners’ trust, say analysts

Umno’s willingness to work with different political camps risks eroding its partners’ trust and undermining the durability of future alliances, analysts say.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the approach could offer electoral advantages, but warned that repeatedly changing direction could strain its relations with partners.

He said Umno risks being perceived by its potential allies as an unreliable partner and by the electorate as an untrustworthy party.

“Frequently changing course could lead to a breakdown in cooperation and political instability,” he told FMT.

Mazlan’s remarks came in response to Melaka Barisan Nasional chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh’s statement that the coalition remains open to discussions with all parties ahead of the state polls, with no electoral pact finalised so far.

At the federal level, BN remains part of the unity government alongside Pakatan Harapan, with BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi insisting in July that the coalition intends to retain its place in Putrajaya until the end of the parliamentary term.

However, BN partnered with Perikatan Nasional in the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan election, with the two coalitions winning 25 of the 36 seats. BN secured 18 seats while PN won seven, including three captured by Hamzah Zainudin’s Wawasan.

Despite this, Hamzah was not invited to the recent Umno general assembly, although several senior PAS leaders attended as guests, prompting analysts to predict that Umno was exploring direct cooperation with PAS that could leave Wawasan on the sidelines.

Mazlan said these arrangements had generated resentment within PH and among its grassroots, resulting in calls for BN to leave the administration.

He expects Umno and BN to continue pursuing partnerships with different parties as they seek to rebuild their strength and regain political power.

Meanwhile, Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said uncertainty over future partnerships should not be attributed solely to Umno, as PAS was also keeping its options open.

She said both parties’ reluctance to make firm commitments suggested limited trust between the two.

“It’s all about survival,” she said.

Syaza said Umno would prefer to operate without partners, viewing electoral alliances primarily as a means of securing enough support to form a government.

She warned that joining a coalition would not guarantee Umno’s continued commitment if the party later felt threatened or saw a more favourable opportunity elsewhere.

“So I don’t see any of these ‘pacts’ as anything more than an electoral strategy in order to form a government, but things can definitely change, as they have happened many times before,” she said.

Syaza said the absence of a shared ideological foundation also made lasting cooperation difficult.

Although BN and PN could find a stronger basis for cooperation through the idea of penyatuan ummah, or Muslim unity, she said competing leadership ambitions could stand in the way of a durable partnership.

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