Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister, has asserted that the Islamic party PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) will never be able to form the federal government independently due to its limited popularity. Mahathir's comments shed light on the political dynamics in Malaysia and the challenges PAS faces in expanding its influence beyond its traditional strongholds.
Mahathir, who serves as an unofficial adviser to the four PAS-led state governments, emphasized that PAS's voter base is largely concentrated in the northeastern states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis. While important, these states do not provide enough parliamentary seats for PAS to govern the country on its own.
In the 2022 general election, PAS secured over 40 parliamentary seats, a significant achievement but insufficient for forming a government. Mahathir pointed out that to achieve a simple majority of 112 seats in the Dewan Rakyat (the lower house of Malaysia's Parliament), PAS would need approximately 80 additional seats. These seats would need to come from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where PAS lacks substantial support.
Mahathir quipped that PAS cannot govern the country on its own without collaborating with non-Malays and Malays who are not PAS members or supporters. This necessity for collaboration highlights the broader political landscape in Malaysia, where coalition politics play a crucial role in forming governments.
Mahathir also addressed the broader political context, noting that even with UMNO's (United Malays National Organisation) diminishing support among Malay voters and Bersatu's (Malaysian United Indigenous Party) issues, including corruption cases and defections, PAS would still struggle to secure a majority. Currently, PAS holds 43 parliamentary seats and Bersatu has 25, placing them both in the opposition.
Meanwhile, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, formed through a coalition with Barisan Nasional and East Malaysian parties, controls 153 seats.
Discussing UMNO, Mahathir, who led the party for 22 years until 2003, criticized its current state. He attributed the party's decline to corruption under the leadership of Najib Razak. Najib, who became UMNO president in 2009, is serving a 12-year jail sentence for corruption related to the 1MDB financial scandal, although the sentence has since been reduced to six years. Mahathir lamented that many in UMNO are now driven by personal financial gain rather than genuine governance.
"They are driven by the income and business opportunities for being an elected representative. They are profiting personally instead of governing," Mahathir said, highlighting the issues of corruption and self-interest within the party.
Mahathir's analysis underscores the complexities of Malaysian politics and the hurdles PAS faces in its quest for greater political power. The necessity for coalition-building and the influence of regional dynamics are pivotal factors that will continue to shape the country's political future.
By: Kpost
Information Source: Nst
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