Hamzah tak dijemput ke PAU, isyarat pakatan Melayu tertumpu Umno-PAS, kata penganalisis

Hamzah Zainudin, the former chief opposition leader of Umno, did not attend a recent gathering of Umno, despite Wawasan being part of the BN leadership bloc that won the PRN in Negeri Sembilan. This absence has sparked speculation that the Malay alliance, currently being shaped by Umno, might only involve PAS, according to analysts.

The recent assembly featured several prominent PAS leaders, including Idris Ahmad, Takiyuddin Hassan, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, and Syahir Che Sulaiman, all of whom had received invitations from Umno, while Hamzah had not. The growing cooperation between Umno and PRN also includes Wawasan, a component of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

Wawasan, led by Hamzah, managed to win three seats after competing as part of the BN block, which later formed the state government. Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri, a consultant from Global Asia, noted that Hamzah's absence holds significance as Wawasan had tried to position itself as a bridge between BN, led by Umno, and PN, dominated by PAS.

"Wawasan tried to become a bridge between Umno and PAS, but a bridge is only needed as long as both sides do not have their own paths," he told FMT. Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia also commented on the development, stating that Umno seems to prioritize direct relations with PAS over cooperation with the broader PN. "Umno knows the true strength of PN lies within PAS and wants a more exclusive relationship with PAS," he explained.

Mazlan further stated that Umno and PAS have a history of cooperation through the National Pact, while Wawasan, born from Bersatu, has a different political background. He added that the proposal for Hamzah to potentially become the next PM after the 2016 general election might have been met with discontent within Umno, as it was too early in the formation of cooperation between parties and risked creating the perception that Wawasan had a dominant agenda within PN.

Azmi Hassan from the Nusantara Academy noted that Umno might be more comfortable receiving PAS as a political guest due to the shared narrative of Malay-Islam. However, the presence of Hamzah and Wawasan carries different sensitivities, he noted. "For Wawasan and Hamzah, their history with Umno is too dark and too bitter." The arrival of Hamzah and Wawasan brought a different level of sensitivity, he added.

"For Wawasan and Hamzah, their history with Umno is too dark and too bitter." While Hamzah and Wawasan's presence in Negeri Sembilan and Johor has highlighted the changing dynamics between Umno and PAS, the clear formula for political unification between BN and PN has yet to be established as discussions on power-sharing continue.

Analysts believe that the leadership of Wawasan needs to reassess its position if Umno and PAS become more willing to engage and cooperate directly.