Isu status jejas keyakinan terhadap PN di sebalik rundingan kerusi, kerjasama

Analysts caution that coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) risks losing credibility if its registration is cancelled by the Malaysian Registration of Associations Board (JPPM). The status of PN becomes a concern as the alliance needs to safeguard the interests of all component parties during the pre-election consultations and political cooperation.

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri noted that even though the notice from JPPM does not mean PN is cancelled, the question of a coalition's existence is enough to shake confidence in its strength. PN should enter the race with a unified structure, but today, that structure is being questioned, according to a Global Asia Consulting analyst.

Zaharuddin predicts that without PN, each party would have to re-contend their own name and strength. Former presidencies that can be settled at the negotiating table may turn into a competition among themselves, he said. Another possibility is that if PN's status ends or fails to function normally, PAS and Umno could move through a two-way formula without PN as their main umbrella.

However, who will safeguard the interests of Wawasan that exist with PAS support, Zaharuddin wonders. The question of PN's registration being cancelled by JPPM is now a follow-up concern to its cancellation application. Sinar Harian reported on a viral notice dated 22 September from JPPM, which claimed to give the PN Chairman, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, 30 days to submit a representation to JPPM.

The notice also claims an order has been issued to halt all activities under the PN name. Bersatu Deputy Chief Azmin Ali said that Bersatu accepted a copy of JPPM's notice to PN later that day. Mazlan Ali from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) said component parties of PN would lose time if PN's registration is cancelled as the name of Perikatan Nasional is a strong name, especially outside the SG4 (Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu) states.

He predicts component parties will face a logo choice dilemma beyond SG4, with PAS' less impressive appeal among non-Malays. What else should the upcoming group use to compete? What logo, or the moon's shape?