Wawasan mampu lunakkan imej PAS, tarik pengundi atas pagar, kata penganalisis

Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) has the potential to counter the conservative image of PAS and help Perikatan Nasional (PN) attract non-Malay and Malay voters, a political analyst has said. Mazlan Ali, from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), believes Hamzah Zainudin's inclusive approach, which opens leadership positions to all ethnic groups, could expand PAS's influence beyond its traditional Malay base.

"The prevailing perception is that PAS is a relatively conservative party with limited influence outside traditional Malay states," he told FMT. Prior to distancing itself from Bersatu, PAS benefited from cross-ethnic support from PN, particularly outside the traditional SG4 states through cooperation with Bersatu. However, since PAS severed ties with Bersatu on June 8, Wawasan could fill this gap, especially by expanding its appeal to non-Muslim and non-Malay voters.

This could be achieved through Wawasan's openness to leadership from all ethnicities and religions. Hamzah Zainudin, a former Bersatu deputy president, launched Wawasan and joined PN with Pejuang leader Mukhriz Mahathir. Mazlan suggests that collaboration with Wawasan would be easier for PAS since it doesn't compete for dominance within a single coalition.

Nevertheless, the dynamics are different for PAS compared to Umno, which may aspire to be the dominant force given its history and legacy as a ruling party for over 60 years. Umno's larger size and long history as a government for more than half a century are significant factors, he adds.