THAT PAS has officially terminated its partnership with Bersatu means that the latter is now free to helm the “loose dozen or so smaller parties” coalition known as Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) that was previously not be well-received by PAS.
This follows an almost midnight media statement by PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang in the aftermath of yesterday’s (June 8) Ulama Council meeting that the Islamist party shall cease its existing ties with Bersatu.
On that note, the eight-term Marang MP said PAS “will explore a form of political understanding and electoral pact for the sake of unifying the ummah (Muslim solidarity) to face the state polls and the 16th General Election (GE16)”.
Speculations are rife that the much-anticipated “Bersatu-PAS divorce” will pave way to a potential Muafakat Nasional 2.0 (UMNO+PAS) revival”.
As it is, UMNO and PAS leaders held a meeting at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday (June 4) evening although both sides downplayed it as a routine, regular meeting that did not involve their party presidents.
That the recent engagement involving PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad and secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan took place against the backdrop of upcoming Johor (and Negeri Sembilan) state polls has intensified political chatter of shifts within the Malay-Muslim political landscape.
Confirming the meeting, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that reviving Muafakat Nasional was not on the agenda.
Recount that the alliance was forged between UMNO and PAS in 2019 when Pakatan Harapan was leading the government but fell apart after PAS formed Perikatan Nasional (PN) with Bersatu the following year.
‘Inclusive party for Malaysians’
On the other side of the divide, it has been rumoured that Bersatu could be returning to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) fold but this has been dismissed by the former’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz as malicious fabrication engineered to cause division
This has led to Bersatu activist Ezad Zainal envisaging Bersatu to eventually becoming an “inclusive party for Malaysians” with mobilisation of the IPR loose pact featuring Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) as PN’s “MCA” and “MIC” respectively.
Now that PAS is no longer a stumbling block to the participation of especially non-Malay ‘mosquito parties’, United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council chairman Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy can certainly look forward to Bersatu ‘freely’ spearheading the opposition coalition.
“It might be able to attract support from both non-Malays and Malays, especially in states such as Penang, Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, to name a few,” opined the former Penang DAP stalwart recently.
“PAS’ strongholds remain the Malay-majority SG4 states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu.”
As reactions are trickling in, veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin reckoned that it is appropriate for PAS to severe ties with Bersatu “which is always berpecah (divided)”.
However, staunch Madani backer Jason Yew wondered “who will be PAS’ next victim after having divorced Bersatu with triple talaq”.
Even the Muafakat Nasional tie with UMNO was severed when they (PAS) met BERSATU who had government power at the time.
Now that BERSATU no longer has government power and is seen to be getting weaker, it’s BERSATU’s turn to be ditched by the wayside. After the honey runs out, the dregs are thrown away.
It turns out that the definition of ummah unification for PAS is very flexible. Apparently, the ummah is only considered united as long as there are seats and ministerial positions. If it’s not beneficial, they’ll just leave it. – June 9, 2026
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