Umno’s future hinges on partnership with PAS, says analyst

A political analyst has stated that the outcome of the Melaka election will significantly bolster the political ambitions of Umno's chairman, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to become the next prime minister. According to James Chin of the University of Tasmania, the recently concluded election in Melaka does not signal a resurgence in Umno's electoral success.

Instead, Chin asserts that Umno's prospects now hinge on forming an alliance with PAS. The analyst explains that Malay votes, which have traditionally been split between Umno and PAS, are now being united through their cooperation, thereby granting the two parties a substantial advantage in Malay-majority constituencies. He claims that Umno and PAS are virtually unbeatable in these areas when they collaborate.

Chin emphasizes that the "Malay tsunami" brought about by their partnership has been increasingly apparent in the results from Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and now Melaka. He predicts that as long as the two parties maintain this cooperation, they will be well-positioned to win the upcoming 16th general election, which is expected to take place by early 2028, though it is widely anticipated to occur next year.

The Melaka election results reveal that the BN-PN alliance secured 24 out of the 28 seats, giving them a supermajority in the state assembly. In the 2021 state election, the BN had achieved a two-thirds majority by winning 21 seats; however, an Umno assemblyman later switched allegiance to PAS.