KUALA LUMPUR: Pas is hedging its bets for the 15th general election by staying close to both Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), analysts said.
Though Pas is pledged to the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner in GE15, analysts said Pas and Umno will ultimately need each other's support to form a strong government.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said Bersatu is the real "thorn" in Pas's equation with Umno.
"Umno wants to fly solo in GE15 because Pas is adamant in dragging along Bersatu into the pact. Given the bitter battles between Umno and Bersatu, it is extremely unlikely for both parties to join forces again.
"And, if Barisan Nasional (BN) fails to secure a strong majority in the polls, then Umno will inevitably have to court Pas's support to form a government.
"Bersatu will certainly not help BN return to power even if it can do so. So, that leaves Pas as the only ally in Peninsular Malaysia to give Umno its much-needed majority," he said.
Securing two-thirds majority in both the Melaka and Johor state elections had inspired Umno to abandon its political cooperation with Pas and Bersatu for GE15.
In the Melaka state elections in November 2021, Umno clinched 18 seats while Bersatu only won two seats. Pas, on the other hand, suffered a total wipeout.
Meanwhile, in the Johor state elections last March, Umno scooped 33 seats while Bersatu secured two seats and Pas won one.
While the state polls saw Umno bouncing back to shape, Azmi said the party cannot dismiss the fact that Bersatu and Pas still appealed to Malay voters.
"On the other hand, the Malay votes will split between Bersatu, Pejuang and other opposition parties under the Pakatan Harapan banner," he said.
Likewise, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun described Pas as a "long-sighted party" and hence, it may have an "understanding" with Umno to avoid direct confrontation in crucial seats.
"What Pas desires currently is to be part of a ruling coalition so that it can develop its religious agenda more proficiently.
"As such, Pas would align itself with whichever party that could help it prosper that agenda more efficiently.
"Since Umno is poised to win GE15 handsomely, Pas would naturally align itself more with Umno, especially after the polls to form the ruling coalition," he said.
On Sept 27, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has agreed to work together in GE15 as a united front.
Muhyiddin also said Hadi's recent meeting with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was a dead end.