PAS has sent a clear message that it intends for Perikatan Nasional (PN) to remain the primary platform for the opposition after the party snubbed a meeting held by the loose coalition, Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR).
Syaza Shukri from the International Islamic University Malaysia noted that the decision likely stems from a desire to avoid the perception of a fragmented leadership. She explained that having two sets of leaderships within the opposition bloc would create confusion among voters.
It would be highly awkward for PAS to remain outside of IPR if the latter is touted as a coalition for parties outside the government, especially since PAS is currently the largest opposition party in the country.
The current situation suggests a dual-headed leadership in the opposition, even though the component parties of PN and IPR are largely identical.
The emergence of IPR
IPR is an initiative led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who stepped down as PN chairman on 1 January. The coalition includes Gerakan, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party, Pejuang, Muda, Urimai, Putra, Berjasa, the Malaysian Advancement Party, and the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party.
Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali chaired a preparatory meeting on Thursday for IPR’s first convention, which is scheduled for June. Although a nameplate was prepared for PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, no representatives from the party were in attendance.
Takiyuddin also serves as the PN secretary-general, a position he assumed after PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar took over the PN chairmanship in February. This marks the second time PAS has skipped such a meeting, having previously stayed away from an IPR session chaired by Muhyiddin in January.
Strategic shifts in leadership
With PAS now firmly in control of the leadership within PN, Syaza suggested that Muhyiddin and his allies might be attempting to elevate IPR as a dominant force to rival the current PN structure.
Notably, PAS had participated in IPR meetings previously when Muhyiddin still held the position of PN chairman, indicating a shift in the party’s alignment following the change in leadership.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia analyst Mazlan Ali added that the absence of PAS reflects a preference for a Malay-Muslim-centric political narrative. He argued that IPR’s broader approach does not seem to align with the current priorities of PAS.
Mazlan further predicted that the upcoming IPR convention might struggle to gain momentum without the presence of PAS, as most other member parties are smaller entities with limited influence on the national political landscape. However, he acknowledged that the initiative aims to attract non-Malay support, which remains a key objective for the opposition.
