PAS and Barisan Nasional (BN) may both benefit if PAS contests the Melaka state election under BN’s logo, but three political analysts said the arrangement could create problems after the polls.
Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said BN risked helping PAS establish a stronger foothold in Melaka.
‘BN needs to be careful because this might lead to an easier win for PAS in certain seats in Melaka. Once PAS becomes much stronger in Melaka, it is not impossible to imagine PAS eventually overtaking BN,’ she told FMT.
PAS seeks enough winnable seats
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed on Friday that negotiations and discussions with PAS over the Melaka election were progressing well.
This came after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang reportedly said the party was prepared to consider using BN’s logo in the state polls.
However, Syaza said PAS was unlikely to agree to such an arrangement unless negotiations resulted in the party being allocated a sufficient number of seats, particularly winnable ones.
‘If PAS does this without getting more than seven seats, or without being given some of the winnable seats, then its role would be like in Johor … merely supporting BN. Given its growing strength in Melaka, I don’t think that’s what PAS wants.’
Syaza said the negotiations could also raise questions about reciprocity between the two parties.
If PAS was willing to contest under BN’s banner in Melaka, she questioned whether the negotiations could eventually lead to PAS allowing BN candidates to contest under the PAS banner in states led by the Islamic party.
What if the pact breaks down?
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia questioned how such an arrangement would work if the relationship between PAS and BN later broke down.
He said complications could arise if PAS candidates contested under the BN logo and received their watikah, or candidates’ appointment letters, from BN leaders.
‘What happens if there is a crisis later? If they contested using BN’s logo and watikah, can PAS simply leave the arrangement?’ he asked.
Mazlan also questioned how the arrangement would affect smaller Perikatan Nasional component parties such as Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party if BN chose to work directly with PAS.
BN could argue that it already had MCA and MIC representing its non-Malay component, he said.
‘This is not really about whether they can win Melaka. BN may be capable of winning on its own. The problem is how this arrangement is going to be implemented,’ he said.
Logo could affect GE16 negotiations
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said PAS could also weaken its bargaining position in seat negotiations with BN for the 16th general election.
He said it made sense for PAS to contest under BN’s ‘dacing’ logo, which was more recognisable and could appeal to voters who were less comfortable with PAS’ moon symbol.
However, he said this could become a liability for PAS after the Melaka election.
‘If Melaka PAS uses the BN logo, it would give ammunition to BN during seat negotiations after Melaka to say that BN is more influential than PAS,’ he told FMT.
