WHAT ABOUT BERSATU?
Analysts told CNA that Bersatu faces the most significant fallout from PAS’ decision, warning that the party now faces a daunting challenge to maintain its political relevance without the support of the Islamist party’s formidable grassroots machinery.
Ahmad Fauzi said that if Bersatu fail to forge a new relationship with one of the stronger axes in Malaysian politics – whether it be PH or BN – then the party will “slowly but surely” fade away from mainstream politics, eventually into oblivion.
“With PAS out of the picture, and the former Bersatu number two bringing with him a majority of Bersatu’s elected representatives and thinkers into (potentially) another coalition with PAS, Bersatu will (not) have sufficient grassroots to muster a credible political challenge to anyone,” he said.
Ahmad Fauzi believes that as UMNO splinter parties – of which Bersatu is one of them – disintegrate, UMNO will inevitably become stronger.
“In general, the Malays have always been stuck politically between the ideology of UMNO and PAS. No other political play can captivate the Malay audience as much as these two parties have, with PKR and Bersatu coming in during the interregnum,” he said, referring to Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat – another UMNO splinter party.
Ahmad Fauzi suggested that a return to PH is not entirely off the table for Bersatu, despite the lingering bitterness and historical friction between the two sides.
The animosity stems largely from the 2020 “Sheraton Move” which triggered the collapse of the then-PH administration led by Mahathir Mohamad in his second outing as Malaysia’s prime minister.
The plot, reportedly hatched at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya, saw more than 30 MPs defect from the then-ruling coalition, effectively toppling the government after just 22 months in power.
This led to the appointment of Muhyiddin as prime minister, as Bersatu, PAS, and BN joined hands to form a new ruling coalition. But Muhyiddin’s tenure lasted only until August 2021 when some MPs from UMNO pulled their support, ultimately leading to Ismail Sabri Yaakob replacing Muhyiddin as prime minister.
“Politics is the art of the impossible. Things you wouldn’t imagine yesterday, can become reality tomorrow. Before the 2022 elections, did you think that PH and UMNO could be in a government together? It is now almost four years,” said Ahmad Fauzi.
“Even erstwhile enemies can become friends temporarily. That is Malaysian politics now.”
Syaza, however, believed that it would be “risky” for Bersatu to go back to PH and that it would attempt to lead another more “moderate” and multiracial coalition.
“That’s just to survive. I can’t see them being electorally influential except for the few big names they have,” she said, adding that she believed that Muhyiddin still harboured hopes of returning to power.
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