KUALA LUMPUR — Bersatu is likely to be pushed out of Perikatan Nasional (PN) where PAS is the dominant player, an analyst said following the breakup of political cooperation between the two opposition parties.
Geostrategist Professor Dr Azmi Hassan sees Bersatu’s position in PN as more tenuous, but added that the ouster of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s party will also depend on positions taken by smaller PN members, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).
“It depends on Gerakan and MIPP, but most probably Bersatu will be ousted,” Azmi told Scoop.
Muhyiddin yesterday said Bersatu would not leave PN which it formed together with PAS.
He said it was PAS which chose to stop political cooperation with Bersatu, a decision made by PAS’ central leadership on Monday night after months of friction between the two parties.
PAS, however, controls PN, as its vice-president and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is coalition chairman.
He took over from Muhyiddin who stepped down from the PN chairman post effective January 1.
Following PAS’ decision, its leaders have been vague over plans to stay or leave PN.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan told Scoop the party is still assessing its future within PN after ending cooperation with Bersatu.
“The party will determine its position in PN in the near future,” Takiyuddin said, acknowledging that PAS’ decision to end ties with Bersatu will have implications for the broader PN framework.
PAS central committee member Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has noted that party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement on the decision to split with Bersatu did not mention PAS’ status in PN at all.
“Our existing position (in PN) remains,” he was reported saying on Monday night after PAS leaders met.
Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau, when contacted, said his party would take a cautious approach while awaiting further clarity.
“Gerakan takes note of the recent developments involving PAS and Bersatu. At this stage, Gerakan will await further official clarification from the relevant parties before making any further comment on recent developments,” Lau told Scoop.
Lau added that it was “premature to draw conclusions” before official explanations are provided.
“Gerakan will continue to play a constructive role in strengthening PN as a coalition that can be accepted by Malaysians of all races and religions,” Lau said, urging PN members to remain focused on the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
Scoop also contacted MIPP president Punithan Paramsiven but received no reply.
Taking a different view, however, is Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali who told Bernama that it is PAS which may leave or be expelled from PN.
He said this is because PAS cannot determine PN’s direction on its own, as the coalition also comprises Bersatu, Gerakan and MIPP.
“PAS represents only one voice. Since PAS has severed ties with Bersatu, there is a possibility that the three component parties in PN could decide to expel PAS, and the coalition is expected to be led by Bersatu president, Muhyiddin,” Mazlan told Bernama.
The director of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur Campus said PAS may then form a new political alignment for the 16th general election
This would further fragment the opposition bloc, he added, – June 10, 2026