Johor polls to determine Umno-PAS marriage, says pundit

SHAH ALAM - Will they or will they not? The future of Muafakat Nasional - Umno and PAS will likely be decided after Johor polls, said a pundit.

Academician Dr Mazlan Ali said Umno is likely to win Johor polls and may sideline PAS in GE15.

“It will mark the end of Muafakat Nasional and both parties are likely to go separate ways,” he told Sinar Ahad.

Pas vice president, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on Friday said the party has not made any decision on the partnership with Umno, and their status will be re-evaluated after the March 12 Johor state election.

However, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Friday indicated the cooperation with Pas should be not be reopened. Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan on Saturday slammed Zahid over the statement.

Commenting further, Mazlan, the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM ) Razak Faculty of Technology academician said the conflicting statements show Umno no longer needs Pas as it feels it could 'survive' independently.

"In the last Melaka polls, even without Pas, Umno had a huge victory and even in Johor, they are confident of winning big.

"The Johor state election’s results will further strengthen Umno's decision to move forward without Pas while the latter continues cooperation with PN," he said.

He further said Pas is still hoping to maintain a relationship with Umno which the biggest Malay party is no longer keen on.

"In GE15, Pas to be in a cosy relationship with PN because Bersatu seems to be more honest and values ​​the relationship it as with PAS as compared to Umno," he added.

The MN cooperation is also difficult to maintain due to the overlapping of seats. "If Pas stays with Umno, it might need to give in at its stronghold in Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah. But if it stays with Bersatu it is likely to gain more seats," he said,

Due to that, PAS is more comfortable working with Bersatu, he added.