10/06/2026

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 10, 2026

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Speculation surfaces about PAS-Umno realignment

‘No conspiracy to topple Negeri Sembilan govt’

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: PAS has formally severed its political cooperation with Bersatu, fracturing the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition bloc and triggering what could be the most significant realignment in Malay politics ahead of the 16th general election (GE16). The decision, announced following a Special Central Working Committee meeting on Monday, was made after the party reviewed political reports, assessments and guidance from its Syura Council. “The special meeting has resolved to end political cooperation with Bersatu,” said PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in a statement. “The party, however, has left the door open for future arrangements, and will explore a form of political understanding and electoral pact in the spirit of Muslim unity ahead of the upcoming state elections and GE16 while continuing to engage academics, professionals, political leaders and activists.” PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari framed the split as a strategic and ideological recalibration rather than an emotional reaction to short-term pressures, describing it as a “bitter pill” taken in pursuit of longer KUALA LUMPUR: DAP secretary general Anthony Loke deflected allegations of a political conspiracy between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Umno to topple the Negeri Sembilan government, saying the voters would be the final arbiters. “Let the people make the assessment and decide. “The people have eyes to see what is happening, and I leave it to the people to judge,” he said, adding that the dissolution of the state assembly had already been carried out and the election campaign would proceed as planned. He was speaking after launching the Cermat Madani programme here yesterday. Loke declined to comment on alleged revelations linked to Bersatu involving purported political arrangements with PAS and other parties. “In politics, we must have hope. We cannot be disappointed. We must have hope.” When asked whether PAS’ split with Bersatu had any connection to Pakatan Harapan, he was dismissive. “That is their problem.” The remarks came after a 13-page letter, allegedly from Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to PAS leaders, claimed that PN had held early discussions with Umno aimed at removing Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun. Dated May 25, the letter alleged multiple meetings between PAS, Bersatu and Umno before 14 Umno Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen withdrew their support for Aminuddin’s administration.

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

status Umno’s involvement, reviving talk of a possible Muafakat Nasional 2.0 framework. “I think the discussions, or purported discussions, between Umno and PAS at an informal level suggest that PAS has realised it needs Umno in this equation. “There is no clear path for PAS to regain kingmaker status without some form of cooperation with Umno. It needs that cooperation.” He said any revival of cooperation was more likely to emerge at state level first, identifying Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Pahang and Perak as key battlegrounds where electoral arithmetic could force pragmatic alignment. “In Negeri Sembilan, where the competition between PH and Barisan Nasional is almost 50-50, PAS could become the deciding factor. The same applies to Malacca, Pahang and Perak, where each side may come to depend on the other.” Azmi said such dynamics mirrored the original logic of Muafakat Nasional, where Umno and PAS had cooperated after Barisan Nasional lost federal power. without

o Observers describe severing of ties by Islamic party with Bersatu deliberate attempt to reposition itself at centre of Malay-Muslim politics

PETALING JAYA: PAS’ decision to sever ties with Bersatu has cracked open Malaysia’s opposition bloc, triggering fresh speculation of a Umno-PAS realignment even as analysts caution that the structural fault lines that once sank Muafakat Nasional have not gone away. Observers describe the break as a deliberate attempt by PAS to reposition itself at the centre of Malay-Muslim politics without committing to any new formal alliance. Universiti Malaya political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the split does not automatically translate into a return to Umno but it has cleared political space for recalibration. “PAS’ decision to end its political cooperation with Bersatu does open a psychological and strategic pathway towards Umno but it does not necessarily mean PAS is ready to fully return to Umno. For now, PAS is creating new negotiating space.” Awang Azman said PAS is carefully framing the move under the banner of “ ummah unity”, a narrative carrying both ideological weight and tactical value. “ Ummah unity should be interpreted on two levels. On the ideological level, it is consistent with PAS’ long-standing narrative of Malay-Muslim political unity. “But on the practical level, it also functions as a negotiation tool, term political stability. He also pointed to festering internal tensions within PN, including disputes over the inclusion of smaller parties and friction in Perlis and Negeri Sembilan, as having eroded grassroots morale and ground-level cooperation. “PAS and Bersatu can no longer continue under the same umbrella following yesterday’s decision,” Fadhli said, signalling an expected restructuring of the opposition coalition. Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, while expressing regret, stressed that the termination was made unilaterally by PAS, and reaffirmed his party’s commitment to PN. “As a founding party of PN, Bersatu will remain firmly committed to the pact and continue strengthening its people-centric agenda.” He urged members to remain resilient, and affirmed that there was “wisdom behind what has transpired”. Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the split came as no surprise, arguing that the PAS-Bersatu arrangement had always rested on political convenience rather than genuine trust.

depth. In the long term, this could lead to Bersatu being marginalised as a key vehicle of Malay politics.” He said the impact on Pakatan Harapan (PH) would depend on whether Malay opposition fragmentation persists or gives way to new consolidation. “In multi-cornered contests, a PAS-Bersatu split could benefit PH and BN. But if PAS succeeds in forming a new alliance with Umno or creates a one-on-one electoral formula in Malay seats, PH’s position could become more difficult.” Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said the development came as no surprise and effectively marks a turning point for Bersatu within the opposition bloc. He said PAS’ current positioning reflects an implicit recognition that it could not achieve kingmaker

allowing PAS to exit Bersatu’s orbit without appearing opportunistic.” He said structurally little had changed since the collapse of Muafakat Nasional in 2022, when PAS and Umno had previously attempted cooperation before internal tensions derailed the arrangement. “What has changed is the balance of power. Umno is now seen as more stable than in the pre GE15 era while PAS appears keen to align with a party perceived to have a political future.” Awang Azman warned that Bersatu stood to be the biggest casualty of the realignment, arguing that its political strength had long depended on PAS’ grassroots machinery and religious legitimacy. “Without PAS, Bersatu risks becoming a Malay elite party lacking traditional grassroots

Perikatan Nasional opposition bloc fractured

Abdul Hadi confirmed the decision by PAS to break cooperation with Bersatu following a Special Central Working Committee meeting on Monday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

down following a series of political developments involving statutory declarations by several assemblymen, and was replaced by Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah. PAS leaders strongly criticised the handling of the episode which eventually led to Muhyiddin stepping down as PN chairman. PAS vice-president and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar subsequently assumed leadership of the opposition coalition in May. – BY HARITH KAMAL

“We remain in the Unity government. That is our foundation, and it must be respected. “However, the door should remain open for discussions and new approaches should political dynamics evolve.” Relations between PAS and Bersatu had been deteriorating since last year when a leadership crisis in Perlis sharply deepened mistrust between the two parties. Then Perlis menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, a PAS leader, stepped

“We had already expected this to happen. Any collaboration must be surrounded by sincerity and must not contain elements of betrayal,” he said at an event in Putrajaya yesterday. Ahmad Zahid described recent Umno-PAS engagements as constructive, reflecting openness to dialogue amid shifting political dynamics. He stressed that his party’s commitment to the Unity government remains firm.