‘Penyatuan semula’ PH-Bersatu di Selangor soal kelangsungan, kata penganalisis

Analysts have stated that a reformed partnership between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Bersatu in Selangor depends on the need to navigate the current political landscape through a new coalition, according to political analyst Hisommudin Bakar. Both parties suffered heavy losses in the PRN polls in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, where the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) garnered more Malay votes.

PH faces a trust deficit among Malay voters, while Bersatu is suffering due to its strained relationship with PAS within PN.

The need for both parties to come to a common ground may meet at the same point, making it difficult to view this solely as PH's desperate attempt to retain Selangor at any cost. Rather, it is a strategic recalibration process after both parties examine the results of the recent polls and realize their individual limitations. In politics, when the old formula fails to produce victories, a party will seek a new formula, says Hisommudin Bakar.

On August 10, Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said PH was not ruling out cooperation with PN or Bersatu, and any form of collaboration must ensure political stability and the welfare of the people. However, this statement raised doubts among DAP Deputy Chief Ramkarpal Singh as to whether such a partnership had been discussed or decided by PH's presidential council. DAP never discussed such a partnership, he added.

Hisommudin Bakar noted that past political rivals can eventually work together, as the recent developments show that former political enemies can collaborate. The real risk for PH is not the alliance with a party involved in the Sheraton Plan, but the failure to explain why such cooperation is necessary. PH and Bersatu will face challenges in winning grassroots support for their cooperation, but this obstacle is surmountable.

If PH and Bersatu can justify that their collaboration is needed to produce a stable government, avoid vote splitting, and offer a more competitive political choice, acceptance can develop step by step, he says.

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri from Global Asia Consulting is more skeptical, pointing out that the PH-Bersatu pairing will force voters to reconcile two contradictory political narratives. One formed by PH's promise of reform and rejection of political fragmentation, the other dominated by Bersatu's opposition to PH after Sheraton. How can they explain a former foe becoming a strategic ally today? More importantly, what will happen to PH voters who support PH by rejecting PN? That is the question.