Kerjasama Umno percepat cita-cita PAS ke Putrajaya, kata penganalisis

Analysts suggest that PAS is accelerating efforts to achieve its goal of leading the federal government by viewing cooperation with Umno as the best opportunity for the party to lead Putrajaya, according to political analyst Azmi Hassan. PAS recognizes that it will face difficulties in building influence and support throughout the country if it operates independently, even in the long term, said Azmi.

Umno's broader appeal across Malaysia contrasts with PAS's limited strength in Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu. This cooperation between PAS and Umno is not merely about survival, but also aims to position PAS closer to federal power, he explained. PAS might be ready to play a secondary role after Umno for now, but the shift in stance could happen quickly if the 2016 general election favors PAS.

For the time being, playing a secondary role is primarily about boosting Umno's popularity, but if PAS secures more seats, it may claim the premiership, Azmi noted. The National Pact (PN) alliance might become a footnote in PAS's history, even if it continues to cooperate with Wawasan's leadership. Former Umno spokesperson Shahril Hamdan suggested that PAS might wait between five to 10 years before launching a serious effort to lead the nation.

He observed that Umno appears more focused on regaining power quickly, while PAS might prefer to use its time in the government to build administrative experience and gain public recognition. Political analyst Mazlan Ali from the University of Technology Malaysia agreed with Shahril, stating that PAS is aware of its weakness compared to Umno, especially in terms of top-tier figures and experience in federal administration.

He believes Umno, which has governed Malaysia since independence until 2018, has decades of experience that PAS can learn from. PAS faces challenges due to its perception as a regional party with limited appeal among traditional Malay voters. Mazlan expects PAS to allow Umno to lead Putrajaya if both parties succeed in forming a government after the 2016 general election.

However, he warns that this step could backfire, potentially helping Umno regain public support, similar to what happened in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. PAS may lose its influence due to both parties competing for the Malay voter segment. Cooperation between PAS and Umno can strengthen both parties and increase the chances of winning PRU16, but long-term success depends on maintaining this relationship.

If the relationship between the two parties is not strengthened further, they may once again compete against each other on the political stage to win the Malay vote in the future, he concluded.