PAS may be playing 5-10-year game to win over voters, says Shahril

Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan suggested that the Islamic party, PAS, might be taking a multi-decade approach to eventually secure the nation's top leadership position. According to Shahril, who appeared on the Keluar Sekejap podcast, PAS could be willing to wait five to ten years before making a serious bid for the country's highest office.

PAS and Umno recently reached a cooperation agreement ahead of the Melaka state election, with the Islamic party indicating it was open to competing under the Barisan Nasional banner. However, Shahril noted that the two parties appeared to be operating on different timelines. While Umno seemed focused on securing power in the immediate future, PAS appeared more willing to take a more measured approach.

Shahril explained that PAS might be content with entering government without immediately demanding the top job. In doing so, the party could provide its leaders with more experience and help familiarize civil servants and voters with PAS in a government role. "They want to get the public used to seeing it in government," he stated.

Recognizing that some voters still perceived PAS as "too extreme," lacking in expertise, and short on technocrats to handle senior ministries, Shahril believed that the Islamic party could gradually change this perception over several electoral terms. "I think they believe a transition is happening, and that transition may take another five to 10 years," Shahril added.

Interestingly, Shahril pointed out that he was already observing signs of this shift in conversations with Malay professionals who had traditionally viewed Umno as the more moderate Malay party. However, he questioned why PAS had not given one of its leaders a more prominent position as a prime ministerial candidate, and why the Wawasan president, Hamzah Zainudin, had maintained such a prominent role, including as opposition leader.