PETALING JAYA: It is better for Bersatu to remain within Perikatan Nasional as the former will be hampered by various shortfalls during election campaigning due to its limited grassroots network, say political analysts.
Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said it’s very hard for Bersatu to survive without Perikatan because it needs PAS’ machinery, experience and name recognition.
“In the four states that Perikatan controls now, Bersatu has little presence. This advantage will be wiped out if Bersatu leaves Perikatan.
“It’s a tall order for Bersatu to go up alone or with smaller obscure parties against PAS and Umno’s well-oiled machinery and decades of experience,” said Azmil.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Dr Mazlan Ali predicted that by going solo in the next general election, even Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin may not be able to retain his Pagoh seat.
“If there is a joint coalition, the chances should be better for a young party with limited resources such as Bersatu.
“In Pagoh, if Malay-based parties such as PAS-led Perikatan, Pakatan, Bersama and Bersatu are all going for that one seat, Muhyiddin may lose because Malay votes would be split,” he said.
Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Dr Md Shukri Shuib said Bersatu and PAS actually complement each other.
“Without PAS, Bersatu would lose its grassroots machinery.
“If PAS refuses Bersatu the (electoral) machinery, Perikatan will be in trouble. The only other alternative coalition for Bersatu is Barisan Nasional, if Umno accepts it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bersatu has denied it will return to the Pakatan Harapan fold, with its secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali saying any such suggestion was “mere slander of the worst kind by the media and politicians”.
In a statement yesterday, Azmin said no discussions have taken place between Bersatu and PKR to establish cooperation under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Bersatu is determined to continue firmly and steadfastly defending the political consensus within Perikatan in order to build a strong, dignified, and progressive Malaysia for all Malaysians,” he said.
The position of Bersatu in Perikatan has come under scrutiny over the past few days after PAS, which holds the chairmanship of Perikatan, said that it is reviewing its ties with Bersatu over allegations of betrayal and sabotage.
On May 22, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said PAS will review its cooperation with Bersatu as the latter had allegedly not kept its promises and allegedly stopped other political parties from joining Perikatan, affecting the coalition’s expansion.
Abdul Hadi further alleged that Bersatu had also not fielded enough campaign workers during elections for their own candidates, although the party had claimed that it had “thousands of members”.
