SHAH ALAM – Perikatan Nasional (PN) may not be heading for collapse, but political analysts believe the coalition is entering a period of significant restructuring that could redefine its shape before the 16th General Election (GE16).
The latest shift follows Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s retention as opposition leader through an agreement between Pas and the Reset movement, raising fresh questions about Bersatu’s future role within the opposition alliance.
Political analyst Anis Anwar Suhaimi said the coalition is undergoing a gradual reconfiguration rather than an outright breakup.
"PN is not necessarily collapsing, but it is being reconfigured," Anis told Sinar Daily. "The old PN that was strongly shaped by Bersatu is weakening. If it survives, the new PN will likely be one where Pas becomes the main nucleus of power."
According to Anis, several scenarios could unfold before GE16:
- Bersatu accepts Pas’ dominance and remains within PN while playing a reduced role.
- Bersatu charts a new political direction if it no longer sees the coalition as favourable.
- PN is formally restructured around Pas as its central force while other parties continue operating under the coalition banner.
- Electoral realities push parties toward tactical cooperation without full political trust to avoid multi-cornered contests in Malay-majority seats.
Anis said the key indicators to watch include candidate selection, control over the PN logo, issuance of candidate authorisation letters, the position of opposition leader and the individual chosen to lead post-election negotiations if Parliament is hung.
Meanwhile, political analyst Oh Ei Sun said Bersatu’s weakening parliamentary numbers and lack of governing power have already reduced its political influence.
"As for Bersatu, it is rapidly fading into irrelevance as its number of MPs decreases, and it is no longer holding power either federally or at state level," Oh said.
While uncertainty remains over the coalition’s long-term direction, both analysts agree that Pas is increasingly setting the pace within PN, with the next major test likely to come as preparations for GE16 gather momentum.