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

Analysts suggest any reformation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Bersatu in Selangor hinges on the necessity to navigate the current political landscape through a new alliance, according to political analyst Hisommudin Bakar. Hisommudin, from the Ilham Centre, pointed out that both PH and Bersatu suffered heavy losses in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan PRN elections, where the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) garnered more votes from Malay voters.

PH also faces a trust deficit among Malay voters, while Bersatu has suffered due to its strained relationship with PAS within the PN.

Both parties might face a critical point of convergence, so I do not view this solely as PH's desperate attempt to retain Selangor at any cost. Rather, it is a strategic recalibration following the realization that their previous formulas are no longer yielding victories. In politics, when a long-standing formula fails to produce results, a party seeks a new one, Hisommudin told FMT.

On August 10, Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari hinted that PH would not rule out cooperation with PN or Bersatu, and any form of collaboration should ensure political stability and the people's interests. This comment incited DAP Deputy Chief Ramkarpal Singh to question whether this was discussed or decided by PH's presidential council. DAP never discussed such a partnership, he added.

Hisommudin noted that while those who were once political rivals can now cooperate, voters are increasingly aware that political alliances are not permanent. The real risk to PH lies not in cooperation with Bersatu, but in failing to explain why such cooperation is necessary. Both PH and Bersatu will face challenges in garnering grassroots support for their partnership, but this shouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle.

If PH and Bersatu can build a justification that their cooperation is needed to produce a stable government, prevent vote splitting and offer a more competitive political choice, acceptance can develop gradually, Hisommudin said. Building a conflicting narrative constitutes a hurdle, Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri from Global Asia Consulting remains skeptical, stating that a PH-Bersatu alliance will force voters to reconcile two conflicting political narratives.

Explaining how yesterday's enemies can suddenly become strategic allies today, and what will happen to PH voters who support them by rejecting PN, remains a quandary.