Bersatu akan hilang pengaruh jika terus kekal dalam PN, kata penganalisis

One political analyst argues that the Bersatu party risks losing its influence if it continues to remain within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. Asrul Sani of Asia Group contends that Bersatu cannot persist in determining its future while entangled with PN, as it risks undermining its political standing and support at the grassroots level.

PAS has already severed ties with Bersatu, while Wawasan effectively assumes the role of the preferred Malay nationalist partner of the Islamic party. Bersatu should leave PN and build its future outside the coalition, as staying within PN only risks driving more members out, weakening grassroots morale, and creating ongoing uncertainty regarding constituency and election cooperation, while PAS and Wawasan take over its political space.

The actions of the Bersatu Kangar Executive Committee, including the leadership of the Youth and Women's wings and 90 branch chiefs, leaving the party to join Wawasan follow shortly after Bersatu Deputy Chairman Ramzi Udi and 19 other party leaders resigning due to dissatisfaction with his leadership. Asrul points out that the longer Muhyiddin Yassin keeps PN entangled with Bersatu, the more clearly it becomes marginalized and unable to adapt to changing political landscapes.

Leaving PN would cause Bersatu to lose its coalition status and access to the powerful PAS grassroots base, in addition to facing a multiplicity of challenges without clear coalition partners. However, he adds, if Bersatu chooses to leave PN, it has the potential to redefine its identity, explore new cooperation, and focus on more realistic winnable regions and districts.

The grassroots base takes years to build and cannot be created hastily in the run-up to elections. The risks of leaving PN are significant, but the long-term risk is irrelevance politically. Asrul suggests that Muhyiddin might have hidden strategies to challenge PAS's election plan, but PN should not be the focus of Bersatu's strategy.

Using this advantage to appease PAS or Wawasan merely wastes time and resources without building a forward-looking political future for its party. Clearly, Bersatu cannot build its future by trying to compete with PAS or Umno on Malay welfare, as both parties have stronger roots and clearer identities, while Bersatu can only go so far and limit its appeal to other groups.

Muhyiddin needs to present a convincing vision for the nation, including the economy, governance, and Malaysia's future, while leaving PN without a broader strategy will only change Bersatu's standing without addressing fundamental issues related to its identity and direction. Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy believes Muhyiddin still has unfinished business, which is why Bersatu remains with PN.

He suggests Muhyiddin might try to show he is still in control of Bersatu and PN's direction, despite the risk of damaging the coalition. PAS's current actions indicate the party no longer considers Bersatu part of PN, referring to PAS's exclusion from PN and Barisan Nasional consultations regarding PRN Melaka and PRN Negeri Sembilan voter consensus.

Bersatu contested under its own logo and lost all 22 seats in PRN Negeri Sembilan, while PN won seven out of 36 seats and PN and BN later formed the state government. Azmi points out that PRN Negeri Sembilan's decision shows PN's strong influence among voters, which discourages Bersatu from leaving the coalition.