The Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) is set to decide whether to maintain its cooperation with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) [1].
The decision could determine the survival of the Perikatan Nasional coalition. A collapse of the alliance would shift the balance of power within Malaysia's political landscape, as PAS and Bersatu are key components of the opposition bloc.
Relations between the two parties have become strained following the resignation of former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu) as the coalition chairman [1]. This leadership vacuum, combined with a series of disagreements, has led PAS leadership to reassess the partnership.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party must review its ties with Bersatu because "patience has its limits" [3].
Conflicting reports exist regarding the timing of the decision. One report indicated that PAS expected to hold a meeting within a few days of May 23, 2024 [2]. However, a more recent report states that the party will decide the fate of the alliance during a meeting on Monday, June 10, 2024 [2].
The meeting in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be a "crunch talk" as the party evaluates whether the partnership still serves its interests ahead of the Aidiladha holiday [2]. The outcome will signal whether Perikatan Nasional can remain a unified front or if the coalition will fracture under the weight of internal disputes [1].
“Patience has its limits.”
The potential split between PAS and Bersatu represents a critical vulnerability for the Perikatan Nasional coalition. Because the alliance relies on a fragile ideological and strategic alignment between the Islamist PAS and the nationalist Bersatu, a formal break would likely weaken their collective ability to challenge the current government and could lead to a realignment of opposition forces in Malaysia.
