SHAH ALAM – Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Youth chief Mohd Hasbie Muda says the party is prepared to return to the opposition if the unity government loses its parliamentary majority, stressing that safeguarding political stability remains more important than remaining in government.
Hasbie said Amanah has extensive experience serving as the opposition and is therefore not concerned by the prospect, although he emphasised the need for political certainty amid developments in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
"Whether we are worried or not does not arise. The point is that we are experienced, we have often been in the opposition. So, returning to the opposition is not a very big issue for us.
"But more importantly, when we talk about the reaction to what is happening in Negeri Sembilan and Johor, for me, what we want is certainty," he said.
He said this during Sinar Harian's Berani Semuka programme titled "Seteru Jadi Kawan, Kawan Jadi Seteru: Politik Matang atau Huru-hara?" on Tuesday.
Hasbie was responding to a question on whether Angkatan Muda Harapan was concerned that Barisan Nasional (BN) could withdraw its support en bloc, potentially followed by other parties.
Also appearing on the programme were Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii and Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) information chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
Hasbie said his concerns stemmed from previous political alliances that eventually collapsed after parties contested against each other in state elections.
He pointed to Muafakat Nasional, formed in 2019, which dissolved after Umno and Pas contested against each other in several by-elections.
"It lasted less than two years and the split began with the by-elections in Johor and Melaka, when the two major Malay political camps chose to contest against each other.
"Although they were still part of the Federal Government, once they clashed in Johor and Melaka, they split," he said.
He said the situation differs in Sabah and Sarawak, where parties have long competed against one another at the state level while maintaining cooperation in the Federal Government.
According to Hasbie, Peninsular Malaysia has yet to experience such an arrangement, making it a significant test of whether BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) can sustain their cooperation despite electoral contests at the state level.
"If BN and PH can make it work over the next one year or one and a half years, it will be a record in our politics.
"But this is a risky step because we are not in a stable geopolitical environment and the whole world is exercising caution," he said.
He added that while electoral contests in Johor and Negeri Sembilan could bring political advantages at the state level, they also carry the risk of affecting the stability of the Federal Government.
Nevertheless, Hasbie said Amanah Youth would respect any decision made by the party's leadership, as preserving political stability remains essential for the welfare of the people.