Common cause will give BN-PN reason to keep going, says analyst

Political analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri believes that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) may persist in their informal alliance despite their differences, as long as the benefits of collaboration outweigh the drawbacks of competition. This theory is based on the observation that temporary pacts forged on short-term interests can withstand pressure, but cracks often appear when interests are not aligned.

The upcoming general election will be the ultimate test for the BN-PN "marriage of necessity," according to Zaharuddin. Ronnie Liu, a former DAP leader, predicted that the BN-PN pact would not endure until the next election, as both coalitions view themselves as strong enough to compete for more seats. The first signs of potential trouble were already evident in the seat negotiations for Melaka.

Despite these concerns, Zaharuddin asserts that the two coalitions will remain together as long as they perceive joining forces to be more advantageous than competing against each other.