In politics, trust is less important than benefits, says analyst

Analyst Syaza Shukri argues that in politics, the value of benefits derived from working together outweighs the level of trust between partners. Former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin claims that trust between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has reached its lowest point since the formation of the unity government in 2022.

However, Syaza asserts that trust between political parties is often conditional, citing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's relationship with his Umno counterpart, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Syaza states that reservations between political leaders do not necessarily prevent them from working together. She notes that even if Hadi has reservations about working with Zahid, it doesn't matter if it will benefit PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara.

Former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin asserts that the recent decision by Barisan Nasional to join forces with Perikatan Nasional for the Negeri Sembilan election has caused a "massive rupture" in its ties with Pakatan Harapan. Anwar denies that his ties with Zahid have deteriorated, stating that they remain good despite minor issues at the state level.

Syaza acknowledges that BN's decision to work with PN has caused a rift with PH, but argues that BN had to prioritize its own interests, including its partnership with PH in the administration. She believes that the trust between Anwar and Zahid remains strong, with trust in Zahid's leadership gradually improving after his decision to work with PH four years ago.