PAS, Bersatu fighting for control of ‘prized possession’ PN

PETALING JAYA: Former allies PAS and Bersatu are fighting for control of Perikatan Nasional as the two parties want to contest under the coalition’s banner in the next general election, analysts say.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) said the PN “brand” had a better pull factor among voters, compared to the flags of the two parties as the coalition secured 74 seats in the last general election (15GE).

PAS won the lion’s share of the seats with 43, while Bersatu captured 31.

Mazlan said PAS would be able to attract non-Malay voters should it contest under the PN banner.

He said non-Malay voters have a perception that PAS is a traditional party that would push for ‘hudud’ to be implemented.

He also noted that Bersatu candidates had never contested under their party’s flag before and had been contesting under the PN banner all this while.

“Both PAS and Bersatu would be impacted if they do not contest under the PN banner,” he told FMT.

PAS ended its political cooperation with Bersatu on June 8, but both parties remain components of PN.

On Sunday, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said PAS should not continue to use the PN logo if it chooses to act out of line with the coalition’s decisions and spirit.

Tun Faisal said PN’s establishment was the initiative of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, and it was Bersatu that drew up its constitution and logo and registered the coalition.

He said this in response to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s announcement that former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin would be reappointed as the opposition leader, and that Hamzah’s new party, Parti Wawasan Negara, will use the PN logo in the coming state elections.

Separately, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the PN logo has a certain value as the coalition has built itself to be an alternative to the unity government.

Azmi said the PN logo has helped PAS expand its support base.

“This makes control of PN even more crucial, especially with ties between PAS and Bersatu strained,” he said.