PAS’s deference strengthens Zahid’s claim to be next PM, says analyst
An analyst suggests that PAS's willingness to play a supporting role in electoral arrangements could strengthen Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's bid to become the next Prime Minister. The article discusses shifting political dynamics within Malaysia's Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional coalitions.
Why it matters
Understanding these shifting alliances is crucial for predicting the outcome of future Malaysian general elections and the stability of the next government.
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi insisted that the coalition will defend all 21 state seats won in Melaka in 2021, leaving only seven for PAS and its friends.
PETALING JAYA: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s claim to the premiership could be strengthened if PAS continues to play a supporting role in a broader partnership with Barisan Nasional that wins power after GE16, an analyst said.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Umno would want to lead the next government and was unlikely to surrender that ambition simply because PAS nominates its own prime ministerial candidate.
“It will ultimately come down to the question of which party is dominant,” he told FMT.
Although PAS is the largest single party in Parliament, Mazlan said its willingness to play a supporting role in electoral arrangements could strengthen Umno’s aspirations to lead Putrajaya.
Mazlan Ali.
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