AS I have said before, the end of political cooperation between the two strongest political parties in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition alliance – PAS and Bersatu – means that the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition will not face any major challenge in remaining the ruling coalition.
PAS has invented a number of reasons why it cannot maintain ties with Bersatu.
Among them are the unseating of the Menteri Besar in Perlis, Bersatu’s alleged political interference in Kelantan and Terengganu, and the stand taken by Bersatu in the recent Negeri Sembilan political turmoil, among others.
This ultimately led the PAS Central Committee took the decision on June 8, 2026 to sever its six-year-old ties with Bersatu late yesterday (June 8).
It seems that PAS is keener on maintaining the “unity of the ummah (Muslim solidarity)” than anything else.
Its recent attempt to forge ties with UMNO on the platform of Muafakat Nasional 2.0 (MN) does not appear to have been reciprocated in kind by UMNO.
One wonders whether the reasons given by PAS to sever ties with Bersatu were something that had been rehearsed by the party for some time.
In my recent meeting with Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, it was clear that the party was prepared for the political eventuality of a break with PAS.
‘Malaysians are biggest losers’
It was not something initiated by Bersatu but rather by PAS with its brand of political opportunism.
On the one hand, PAS wants to “unite the ummah” but on the other hand it wants to sever ties with Bersatu. Perhaps PAS should explain this contradiction.
The biggest losers in the severing of ties between PAS and Bersatu are Malaysians who wanted a strong opposition which is capable of providing effective checks and balances on the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might be pleased with the latest developments within the ranks of the opposition.
He is now more or less assured of a second term in office, thanks to PAS.
Meanwhile, given the split, it is not clear what the future holds for the PN coalition.
Since PAS appears more keen to pursue the goal of “uniting the ummah”, then PN should rightly be passed over to Bersatu. – June 9, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
