KUALA LUMPUR — Parti Wawasan Negara’s (PWN) emergence leaves Bersatu isolated, with PAS turning to the entity formed by Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin as its new ally, analysts said.
Having cut political ties with Bersatu, PAS is positioning itself for a future beyond Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s party, said political analyst Datuk Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
“When PAS openly supports PWN’s inclusion in Perikatan Nasional while (PAS president) Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang states that Bersatu is free to determine its own future, the political message is clear: PAS is preparing an alternative to Bersatu,” he told Scoop.
PAS’ association with PWN is now seen as part of a broader restructuring within the opposition, with PWN attempting to fill a “pragmatic Malay-Muslim conservative space”, yet not be similar to existing Malay-Muslim parties.
“PWN wants to occupy a space that is not overly associated with PAS’s hardline image, does not carry Unmo’s historical baggage, is not tied to Bersatu’s internal crises, and does not operate within PKR’s reformist framework,” he added.
For Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali, PWN, together with PAS, can emerge the strongest allies in the opposition bloc.
“It was very clear from the beginning that PAS saw Hamzah as a leadership figure who could be a new partner in the planned political coalition of PAS, which was having problems with Muhyiddin,” Mazlan of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia told Scoop.
It is now clear that PWN’s formation was intended to replace Bersatu within the Perikatan Nasional coalition, he added.
Mazlan said PAS’ support could provide the machinery and grassroots strength necessary for PWN to challenge Bersatu’s influence.
Political analyst and geostrategist Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said Hamzah brings to PAS the 19 MPs who support him in Bersatu’s internal conflict over Muhyiddin’s leadership.
Otherwise, Azmi added, PWN does not have anything new to offer nor does it present any new political direction, being made up of former or disgruntled Bersatu members.
Hamzah officially unveiled PWN on June 13. PAS’ Hadi gave the opening speech, signalling their close association and forward plans to collaboration after PAS cut ties with Bersatu.
Bersatu, however, has said it will not leave the PN alliance. – June 16, 2026