Wawasan risks losing political momentum if it remains on the sidelines as PAS and Umno move towards closer cooperation ahead of the Nov 14 Melaka state election, an analyst has warned.
The two parties are reportedly negotiating a possible electoral arrangement, extending a partnership first seen in Johor and later in Negeri Sembilan.
Leaders from both parties have also attended each other’s assemblies, signalling closer ties. However, Wawasan representatives were notably absent from Umno’s recent general assembly, despite the party’s role in the Barisan Nasional (BN)-Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact during the Negeri Sembilan state election.
Wawasan’s role as a political bridge at risk
Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, vice-president of The Asia Group, said Wawasan had gained momentum by positioning itself as a bridge between BN and PN, filling the space left by Bersatu in the realignment of Malay politics.
However, he warned that this role could diminish if PAS and Umno continued engaging directly.
‘Wawasan’s position as a link between the two parties could be undermined,’ he told FMT.
Asrul said Wawasan needed to remain involved in negotiations, demonstrate its electoral value and identify seats it could realistically win.
In March, before Wawasan emerged, its current president Hamzah Zainudin expressed confidence that he could bridge the two major political coalitions, apparently referring to BN and PN, to help ensure political stability and progress.
At the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan state election, Wawasan, a PN component party, backed the BN-PN alliance, which secured a two-thirds majority following an electoral agreement. Contesting under the PN banner, Wawasan won three of the four seats it contested.
Party urged to strengthen grassroots support
Asrul said Wawasan had benefited from Hamzah’s profile and uncertainty within PN, but warned that visibility alone would not guarantee an established voter base.
He said the party needed to strengthen its grassroots machinery, clarify its political identity and demonstrate how its policies differed from those of Umno and PAS.
Wawasan also needed to secure genuinely winnable seats and avoid being pushed into mixed or marginal constituencies where its chances could be disadvantaged, he said.
Although the party had a strong incentive to remain within the broader Malay political framework, Asrul said it should keep its options open if it failed to secure a meaningful role with either BN or PN.
These options could include exploring cooperation with other major political blocs, such as Gabungan Parti Sarawak or Pakatan Harapan, he added.
Wawasan could appeal to moderate voters
Universiti Sains Malaysia academic Azmil Tayeb said Wawasan appeared to be positioning itself as a moderate component in a possible alignment involving PAS and Umno.
He said the party could contest mixed constituencies where Malays form a slight majority while presenting itself as a peacemaker after years of political polarisation.
Azmil added that Wawasan could emphasise its ideological flexibility rather than be perceived as rigidly ‘ethnoreligious’ like Umno and PAS.
This approach could make the party more appealing to moderate and centrist voters, he said.
