P Ramasamy, chairman of Urimai, warned that PAS leaders who favour Umno over Bersatu risk making a strategic error that could undermine the Islamist party’s recent electoral gains. Speaking after renewed calls for the revival of Muafakat Nasional, Ramasamy said PAS had benefited from Bersatu’s ability to connect with non‑Malay voters and that abandoning the Muhyiddin‑led party in favour of Umno would be “political naivety”.
PAS Umno Bersatu dispute and non‑Malay voters
Ramasamy said PAS’s improved performance in the last general and state elections owed in part to Bersatu’s rapport with voters outside the Malay community. He suggested non‑Malay voters remained wary of PAS because of perceptions of extremism, and that Bersatu leaders had helped temper those worries and broaden PAS’s reach.
“If PAS leaders think that Umno is a better alternative to Bersatu, then such political naivety is astounding,” Ramasamy said in a statement. He added that replacing Bersatu with Umno in any renewed electoral pact would be like “building sandcastles in the air”, reflecting his view that Umno lacks the same level of acceptance among non‑Malay constituencies.
The comment followed a public appeal by PAS election director Sanusi Nor on 28 December urging Umno members and supporters to revive Muafakat Nasional, the electoral pact forged between the two dominant Malay parties in 2019. Sanusi framed the alliance as essential for political stability ahead of the next general election.
Ramasamy’s intervention comes amid uncertainty within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition after a political crisis in Perlis that precipitated a series of resignations among Bersatu leaders. Muhyiddin Yassin stepped down as party chairman, while Azmin Ali and Ahmad Faizal Azumu also relinquished posts, leaving the coalition’s future direction unclear.
Political analysts say the episode highlights the strategic dilemma confronting PAS: whether to prioritise an exclusive Malay‑based alliance with Umno or to maintain links with partners who can help broaden its electorate. The latter, Ramasamy and others argue, was a factor in PAS’s recent gains.
Critics of a renewed PAS‑Umno pact note that Umno’s history and brand of politics may not reassure non‑Malay voters. That could cost PAS seats in constituencies where minority support proved decisive. Supporters of a PAS‑Umno alignment counter that a united Malay front could deliver greater stability and consolidate votes in Malay‑majority areas.
Ramasamy urged PAS to develop a credible strategy for attracting non‑Malay voters if it truly wishes to broaden its appeal. Until such a formula emerges, he said, the party would find it hard to win back the support it needs beyond its traditional base.
As Malaysian parties weigh coalition choices ahead of future polls, the debate over Bersatu, Umno and PAS is likely to shape electoral alignments. For now, Ramasamy’s warning underscores the political risks of sidelining a partner that may have been instrumental to recent cross‑community gains.
Key Takeaways:
- P Ramasamy argues PAS relies on Bersatu to attract non‑Malay voters and that swapping Bersatu for Umno would be political naivety.
- The PAS Umno Bersatu dispute raises questions about whether PAS can broaden its appeal beyond Malay voters.
- Calls to revive the Muafakat Nasional pact follow resignations in Bersatu after the Perlis political crisis.
