KUALA LUMPUR — PAS is steadily consolidating its influence within Perikatan Nasional (PN) as dissatisfaction over Bersatu’s internal issues and weakening political standing fuels concerns that the party could become a liability before the next general election, analysts say.
The tensions surfaced publicly after Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang warned that the party’s “patience has limits” and confirmed Pas was reassessing its cooperation with Bersatu ahead of GE16.
The remarks followed growing unease within Pas over what the Islamist party described as Bersatu’s unilateral decision-making and reluctance to broaden PN by bringing in other Malay-Muslim and moderate non-Muslim parties.
Socio-political analyst Datuk Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi of the Universiti Malaya Academy of Malay Studies said Abdul Hadi’s unusually direct comments reflected deeper fractures within the coalition and pointed to a shifting balance of power inside PN.
Speaking to Scoop, Awang Azman said tensions between Pas and Bersatu had simmered for years over leadership disputes, influence, seat allocations and the coalition’s direction.
“Pas is increasingly viewing Bersatu as a burden if the party fails to resolve its leadership crisis, internal image problems and declining voter confidence.
“In electoral politics, a party plagued by instability and internal conflict can become a liability because it weakens the opposition’s narrative of stability and readiness to govern.
“Hadi’s statement is not merely a routine warning. It is a clear political signal that Pas no longer wants to absorb Bersatu’s political baggage heading into GE16. Pas believes it has the stronger grassroots machinery, deeper voter loyalty and a more organised political structure compared to Bersatu,” he said.
Awang Azman said PN was unlikely to collapse immediately, but warned the coalition could increasingly evolve into a Pas-dominated bloc if tensions remained unresolved.
“PN will not disintegrate because of one statement alone, but it can become weaker if Pas begins moving independently in strategic terms, Bersatu fails to stabilise relations within the coalition, and voters start questioning whether PN is still a cohesive political force.
“The reality today is that Pas has become the main pillar of PN. Bersatu still possesses national figures and government experience, but it no longer appears to be the coalition’s centre of gravity,” he added.
He said Bersatu stood to lose far more if ties deteriorated further because of its reliance on Pas’ machinery and Malay-Muslim voter base.
“Bersatu needs Pas more than Pas needs Bersatu. Pas can survive politically without Bersatu because it possesses ideological supporters, mosque networks, branches and deeply rooted grassroots structures. Bersatu, however, would struggle to remain nationally relevant without Pas’ support,” he said.
Earlier, Abdul Hadi revealed that Pas’ Majlis Syura Ulama, election committee and research division had been tasked with reviewing the coalition’s future direction, while stressing that Bersatu “cannot act as it did before”.
The Pas president also disclosed that a formal letter outlining the party’s concerns had been sent to Bersatu on May 9, with several discussions already taking place during PN leadership meetings.
Meanwhile, political analyst Professor Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Pas was now openly signalling that it was prepared to move beyond Bersatu if necessary.
“Yes, Pas is clearly sending a message — do not be surprised if Pas eventually decides to sever ties with Muhyiddin. Initially, the frustration stemmed from Bersatu’s inability to keep itself together because that reflects poorly on PN as a coalition.
“But over time, especially after the suspensions and expulsions involving Bersatu leaders, Pas has increasingly viewed Bersatu as a liability rather than a value-adding partner. Bersatu no longer brings strong machinery, financial strength or enough influential leaders into the coalition,” she told Scoop.
Syaza said Pas had effectively emerged as the dominant force within PN while Bersatu’s influence continued to diminish.
“Pas has always been the core of PN, but Muhyiddin was previously the public face of the coalition. Now Pas is openly dominating and leading PN politically. Most PN voters are essentially Pas voters anyway.
“Bersatu is fundamentally an elite-based party. Without strong personalities and prominent leaders, it struggles to survive because it lacks the grassroots machinery possessed by Pas and Umno,” she said.
She added that Bersatu’s decline could accelerate the consolidation of Malay-Muslim politics around Pas and Umno.
“I do not believe Pas still needs Bersatu to appear moderate. The moderate Malay voter base is shrinking, and many of those voters are already returning to Umno rather than Bersatu,” she said.
Geostrategist Professor Dr Azmi Hassan said Abdul Hadi’s intervention carried significant political weight because criticism of Bersatu had previously come mainly from Pas parliamentarians rather than the party president himself.
“When the Pas president openly raises these issues, it shows the objective is already there. This is no longer merely about warnings or reminders. Pas is effectively telling Bersatu that its internal weaknesses and political problems are dragging PN down.
“One of the major disputes now concerns Bersatu’s resistance towards allowing new parties into PN because there are concerns over how Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin could strengthen his influence through those parties. Pas, however, believes PN requires fresh political strength and broader participation,” he told Scoop.
Azmi said Pas was unlikely to abandon PN entirely, but Bersatu could become increasingly isolated within the coalition if tensions continued escalating.
“I expect Pas will remain in PN, but eventually Bersatu may be forced to decide whether to withdraw or leave. Once the number one leader in Pas openly raises these concerns, it means the relationship has already reached a very serious stage,” he said. — May 24, 2026
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