Formal Umno-PAS pact more viable with Bersatu out, says analyst

An analyst believes a formal agreement between Umno and PAS would be more stable than the informal understanding they had, as Bersatu is no longer part of the equation. Mazlan Ali, a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia analyst, said a formal pact would provide greater assurance compared to just a mutual understanding. PAS and Umno have previously collaborated in Muafakat Nasional, but the partnership dissolved due to Umno's dissatisfaction with PAS's relationship with Bersatu.

However, the political climate has shifted since PAS severed ties with Bersatu in June, even though they remain partners in Perikatan Nasional. Mazlan believes a formal agreement is necessary for a lasting political relationship between the two parties, covering matters such as seat distribution, loyalty, and common stances on political issues.

The most contentious aspect would be determining who would lead the government if the coalition wins the next election, as both parties remain hesitant to relinquish the prime minister's position to their partner. Syaza Shukri, from International Islamic University Malaysia, suggested that a formal charter could give political weight to the current informal cooperation by turning it into concrete commitments.

This could reassure party members, provide negotiations with state leaders, and signal to voters that PAS and Umno intend to avoid three-way contests. However, a declaration focused solely on Malay-Muslim unity without binding arrangements would remain largely symbolic. A new agreement would differ from Muafakat Nasional only if the parties address the political circumstances and ambiguities that led to its collapse, such as whether the partnership is exclusive, its relation to BN, PN, and Pakatan Harapan, and the priority of contested constituencies.

Informal cooperation offers flexibility but is vulnerable to contradictory statements and sabotage from party leaders, while a formal agreement could provide an authorized structure. Any new charter should define the status of existing political partners, set transparent principles for seat allocation, establish joint decision-making and dispute-resolution mechanisms, provide rules on party discipline and public communication, and clarify post-election arrangements, including potential third coalition negotiations and government position allocations.