As Negeri Sembilan prepares for its next state election, PAS has signaled a potentially significant shift in its electoral strategy by refusing to rule out contesting in traditional DAP-held constituencies.
The announcement has sparked fresh debate over whether the Islamist party is merely expanding its reach or testing the limits of its appeal beyond its traditional support base.
Negeri Sembilan PAS Commissioner Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa recently revealed that the party may consider fielding candidates in constituencies long associated with DAP if seat allocation negotiations with potential allies leave PAS with insufficient Malay-majority seats to contest.
According to Fairuz, PAS is targeting more than 10 state seats, similar to its ambitions during the 2023 state election. While defending its existing strongholds remains a priority, the party is also evaluating constituencies currently held by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP, particularly those where Malay voters make up around 40 percent of the electorate.
His remarks suggest that PAS is increasingly looking beyond its traditional rural and Malay-majority constituencies. Such a move would represent a notable departure from conventional electoral calculations, where DAP strongholds have often been viewed as politically difficult terrain for PAS candidates.
The party has already completed about 90 percent of its candidate selection process, with integrity, service to the people, and an age limit below 60 among the key criteria. Fairuz also emphasized party unity, urging members to accept leadership decisions regardless of personal preferences.
The prospect of PAS entering DAP-held seats has not unsettled DAP leaders. Negeri Sembilan DAP secretary Cha Kee Chin responded calmly, stating that DAP welcomes democratic competition and has no objections to PAS or any other party contesting in its traditional constituencies.
"If any party wishes to contest in DAP seats, there is no problem. We leave it to the voters to decide," he said.
However, Cha stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy campaign environment and urged all political parties to avoid exploiting sensitive 3R issues involving race, religion, and royalty during the election campaign.
The Rasah Member of Parliament also dismissed concerns that PAS candidates could significantly disrupt DAP's efforts to gain Malay support. Instead, he argued that voters would ultimately judge candidates and parties based on their performance, credibility, and policies.
DAP currently intends to defend all 11 state seats it won during the last state election while supporting candidates from its Pakatan Harapan coalition partners. The party remains focused on securing another mandate to form the Negeri Sembilan state government under the PH banner.
The 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election saw Perikatan Nasional (PN) win only five out of the state's 36 seats. PAS secured victories in Paroi, Serting, and Bagan Pinang, while Bersatu captured Labu and Gemencheh. Although PN remained a minority force in the state assembly, PAS' willingness to challenge DAP's traditional territories indicates a desire to expand its influence and present itself as a broader statewide political force.
Whether this strategy reflects genuine confidence or political necessity remains to be seen. Contesting DAP strongholds could allow PAS to test its appeal among more diverse electorates, but it also carries considerable risks. Many of these constituencies have long histories of support for PH and DAP, making electoral breakthroughs far from guaranteed.
Nevertheless, the announcement highlights a changing political landscape where traditional electoral boundaries are becoming increasingly fluid. As parties reposition themselves ahead of the next state election, voters in Negeri Sembilan may witness contests that would have been considered unlikely just a few years ago.
The real question is whether PAS can transform its growing ambition into actual votes, or whether DAP's entrenched presence in its traditional strongholds will once again prove difficult to overcome. The answer could provide an early sign of broader political trends heading into Malaysia's next general election.
By: Kpost
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