Bersatu may need to join another political coalition if party president Muhyiddin Yassin hopes to remain politically relevant in Pagoh following Perikatan Nasional’s poor showing in the recent Johor state election, according to an analyst.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Muhyiddin’s position within the opposition appeared increasingly uncertain after Bersatu candidates were defeated in the Bukit Kepong and Bukit Pasir state constituencies, both located within the Pagoh parliamentary seat.
Former Johor menteri besar Sahruddin Jamal lost the Bukit Kepong contest to Umno’s Ahmad Syarie Yusof by a majority of 10,761 votes, while Idzharruddin Nasirruddin finished last in a three-cornered race in Bukit Pasir.
Coalition support seen as crucial
Mazlan said Muhyiddin’s past electoral victories showed he had relied on coalition support after leaving Umno in 2016.
Muhyiddin retained the Pagoh parliamentary seat in the 2018 general election when Bersatu was part of Pakatan Harapan. He successfully defended the seat again in the 2022 general election with PAS’ support under the Perikatan Nasional banner.
However, PAS ended its ties with Bersatu last month, although both parties remain within the opposition coalition.
Mazlan said Muhyiddin would now need to work either with Pakatan Harapan or Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat, an informal coalition comprising opposition parties, including those outside Perikatan Nasional. He added that Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat has less political influence than Pakatan Harapan.
Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming recently said Muhyiddin could lose Pagoh at the next general election after Bersatu failed to win any seats in the Johor state election.
According to Ong, support for Bersatu has weakened following PAS’ decision to sever ties with the party.
Personal appeal may not be enough
Muhyiddin has served as the Member of Parliament for Pagoh for nine terms, from 1978 to 1986 and continuously from 1995 to the present.
Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Muhyiddin’s electoral prospects would weaken further if the dispute between PAS and Bersatu continued.
She said Muhyiddin’s personal reputation could still make him a competitive candidate, but voters would also take into account the strength of the coalition backing him.
‘Without PAS or any other coalition, there will be little confidence in Muhyiddin,’ she said.
