Secret Pas Meeting With Pmx Zahid Ignites Speculation Of Bersatu Pas Break Up Before Ge16

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THE damning revelation by UMNO’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki that PAS has sent its reps to meet Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and UMNO president Datuk Seri Zahid behind Bersatu’s back should send shivers down the spine of its key Perikatan Nasional (PN) ally.
“I know who met who because the same person did the same to us (UMNO) in the past,” Asyraf who is also the MARA chairman told the Lebih Masa podcast co-hosted by Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad alongside media personality Nur Shazwani Roslan.
Amid cracks that have surfaced following Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s declaration that he is the choice PM11 candidate should PN be able to topple the ruling Madani government in the 16th General Election (GE16), the writing on the wall is seemingly obvious.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (left) and Tan Sri Hadi AwangAfter all, PAS’ agility in switching political partners at the eleventh hour – or even exiting a political pact at will for the sake of its political survival – is well-recorded.
As divulged by Asyraf, UMNO was “backstabbed” by PAS in their Muafakat Nasional (MN) alliance with the latter incessantly denying its involvement in PN before suddenly making a U-turn by declaring its cross-over to be on the side of Muhyiddin who was then PM8 in the aftermath of the 2020 Sabah state election.

Recall also the disbanding of the informal opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) on Sept 16, 2015 after PAS walked out of the pact by severing its ties with DAP following a series of policy disputes, including calls for the implementation of the Islamic penal code or hudud in Kelantan.
Fast forward to the present, all eyes are now on the PN presidential council meeting which is tentatively scheduled for the coming week.
This will provide a clearer picture – at least on two fronts – the direction of the political coalition following the chaotic Bersatu’s eight annual general assembly (AGM) and the PAS’ 71st annual muktamar (general assembly): (i) the official PM11 candidate; and (ii) if the coalition is still comfortable retaining Muhyiddin as its chairman.
On that note, political observer Dr Mohd Yusri Ibrahim expressed concern over Muhyiddin’s future to even retain his Pagoh parliamentary seat given PAS at ground level might no longer be keen to rally for him.

“Let’s say the PN Presidential Council meeting next week agrees not to name a PM candidate; in other words, they manage to reach a compromise for a win-win situation,” envisages the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu senior lecturer at its Centre for Fundamental and Liberal Education.

“But PAS is already aware of Bersatu’s intention to appoint TS Muhyiddin as PM if PN wins later. In such a case, I don’t expect the PAS machinery and supporters to give him comfortable space to win in Pagoh.”
Yusri based his prediction on field observation from:
The Gombak parliamentary seat contest during GE15 whereby the PAS election machinery did not work to ensure the victory of incumbent and current Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali;Nor rallied for Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai for the Bayan Lepas state seat during the 2023 state election in view of the “big war” between PAS and its PN ally over seat allocation. –  Focus Malaysia

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