Wawasan risks being sidelined amid warming PAS-Umno ties, says analyst

Wawasan risks losing political momentum if it remains on the sidelines while PAS and Umno move towards direct cooperation ahead of the upcoming Melaka state election, an analyst has warned.

With the polls scheduled for Nov 14, PAS and Umno are reportedly in direct negotiations over a possible electoral arrangement, deepening a cooperation first seen in Johor and later extended to Negeri Sembilan.

Leaders from both parties have also made appearances at each other’s assemblies, suggesting the growing strength of their partnership.

In contrast, Wawasan representatives were notably absent from Umno’s recent general assembly, despite the party playing its part in the pact struck between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional at the Negeri Sembilan state election.

Asrul Sani, vice-president of The Asia Group, said Wawasan’s current momentum has come from its effort to position itself as a bridge between BN and PN, filling the space left by Bersatu in the Malay political realignment.

He cautioned, however, that this role could diminish if PAS and Umno continue to engage directly with one another.

“Wawasan’s position as a link between the two parties could be undermined,” he told FMT.

Asrul said Wawasan needed to adapt by remaining involved in negotiations, demonstrating a clear electoral contribution, and identifying seats it can realistically win.

In March, before Wawasan’s emergence, its current president Hamzah Zainudin expressed confidence that he could act as a bridge between two major political coalitions — likely referring to BN and PN — to help ensure political stability and progress.

In the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan state election, Wawasan, a PN component party, backed the BN-PN alliance, which secured a resounding two-thirds majority win following an electoral agreement. Contesting under the PN banner, the party won three of the four seats it contested.

Asrul said Wawasan had benefited from Hamzah’s profile and the uncertainty within PN, but added that visibility alone does not guarantee an established voter base.

He said the party needed to strengthen its grassroots machinery, clarify its political identity, and show voters how its policies differed from those of Umno and PAS.

Wawasan also needed to secure genuinely winnable seats, Asrul said, and avoid being pushed into mixed or marginal constituencies to its disadvantage.

He said that although the party has a strong incentive to remain within the broader Malay political framework, it should keep alternative options open if it fails to secure a meaningful role with either BN or PN.

This could include exploring cooperation with other major blocs such as Gabungan Parti Sarawak or Pakatan Harapan, he added.

Moderate role

Universiti Sains Malaysia academic Azmil Tayeb said Wawasan appeared to be positioning itself as the moderate component in a possible alignment involving PAS and Umno.

He said the party could contest mixed constituencies where Malays form a slight majority, while presenting itself as a peacemaker after years of political polarisation.

Azmil said Wawasan could also highlight its ideological flexibility rather than be seen as rigidly “ethnoreligious” like Umno and PAS.

He said this could make the party more appealing to moderate and centrist voters.

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