Strength in the east coast and the so-called Malay Belt alone will not be sufficient for Perikatan Nasional to succeed in taking over the federal government, according to PAS treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad.
In a recent Facebook post, Iskandar noted that while the coalition, particularly PAS, appears to be on solid ground in Kelantan and Terengganu and maintains influence in Kedah and parts of Perak, these local successes do not guarantee national victory.
Strengthening the path to Putrajaya
Iskandar pointed out that winning all seats in existing strongholds does not automatically ensure that Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar will become the prime minister. He noted that the appointment of the Terengganu menteri besar as Perikatan Nasional chairman served as a signal of his standing as the coalition’s candidate for the top office.
To truly wrest control of Putrajaya in the 16th General Election, Iskandar argued that states such as Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pahang, Perak, Penang, Perlis, Sabah, and Sarawak must also become coalition strongholds.
Interconnected efforts for national victory
The current political landscape requires comprehensive cooperation across all states. Iskandar emphasized that success in one specific area will not translate into a national win if coalition allies continue to lag behind.
He observed that political entities now live in a time where efforts are interconnected and cannot operate in silos. Working without regard for the progress of others is no longer a viable strategy for a coalition seeking federal power.
Collective responsibility among allies
Iskandar further stated that members cannot take pride in individual achievements while their partners struggle. He warned that the failure of allies would ultimately lead to larger failures for the entire coalition.
Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who also serves as a PAS vice-president, replaced Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as the Perikatan Nasional chairman on Feb 22.
While the appointment positioned Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as a potential prime minister aspirant for the next general election with backing from PAS Youth and other quarters, Muhyiddin Yassin has remarked that holding the chairmanship is not a guarantee of being the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate.
About The Author
