Malaysia’s PAS eyes new pecking order as it rekindles ties with Umno
Malaysia’s biggest Islamist opposition party has used its annual convention to reopen the door to former rival Umno, while signalling that any reunion will come with a new pecking order as the party sets its sights on leading the federal government. The recalibration comes after a partnership involving Umno and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) jointly toppled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s…
Malaysia's largest Islamist opposition party, PAS, has used its annual convention to reconnect with its former rival, Umno. This re-establishment of ties comes as both parties aim to lead the federal government and push for an early general election. The partnership between Umno and PAS toppled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition in Negeri Sembilan last month, following Umno's victory in Johor.
PAS, which holds 43 parliamentary seats and governs Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis, is the biggest single party in parliament and a founding component of the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. During the convention, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang laid out seven priorities for the next national election, emphasizing the need to defend every seat won in the last general election.
Umno secretary general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki led a delegation from the Malay nationalist party, marking their first appearance at a PAS muktamar since 2019. Any cooperation between PAS and Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) will be scrutinized and guided by PAS's Majlis Syura Ulama, including the choice of election candidates. The relationship between PAS and Umno is still in its early stages, and analysts suggest that an informal arrangement may be more suitable for both parties than a formal alliance.
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