Different political stakes shape how Umno handles PAS talks, says analyst

The differing tones of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy, Mohamad Hasan, on the party’s renewed ties with PAS reflect the different political calculations they face, says an analyst.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said that while Zahid and Mohamad were both looking at what they believed was best for Umno, their positions in the party shaped how they approached possible cooperation with PAS.

She said Zahid appeared more pragmatic because he also had to consider what kind of arrangement would allow him to retain his position.

Mohamad, who is known as Tok Mat, “is not thinking so much about that because he’s not at the top,” she said. “That’s why his consideration is more on what is best for Umno because win or lose, pact or no pact, he remains number two,” she told FMT.

Syaza said Zahid remained the key decision-maker on major party matters. “Zahid is still very powerful. He gives the impression that he allows dissent, but when it comes to what matters, it will be Zahid’s decision,” she said.

Her comments come after former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi had observed that Zahid played up talk of the “blue wave” after Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional’s victory in Negeri Sembilan.

Puad said Mohamad appeared to be more cautious, having urged PAS to prove its sincerity through a snap election in PAS-led Terengganu, a call later rejected by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who said the Terengganu state election and the next general election were separate matters.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the situation should not be viewed as a split in Umno, but as different strategic positions within the party.

He said Zahid appeared to be keeping political options open, while Mohamad was stressing that any cooperation must be based on reciprocity and mutual respect. “They have different tones, which are not necessarily contradictory. One creates room for engagement, while the other defines the conditions for it,” he said.

Syaza said that if Umno decided to work with PAS, it would still need to ensure PAS did not gain excessive leverage in negotiations.

She said that while the initial commitment to cooperate on the basis of avoiding a split in Malay votes is easier for the grassroots to accept, the principle of give-and-take becomes difficult in terms of seat allocations, as the parties’ machinery might resist giving up incumbent seats despite the decisions made by top leaders.

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