Pas at a strategic crossroads amid Perlis political crisis

SHAH ALAM – Pas is now at a strategic crossroads after the Perlis political crisis, with rising tensions within Perikatan Nasional (PN) fuelling questions over whether the party should remain, seek new allies, or revive Muafakat Nasional (MN) with Umno.

Political analyst Arif Anwar Lokmanol Hakim said the situation exposed weaknesses in coalition management, with Bersatu taking advantage of internal divisions within Pas and the wider PN framework.

Taken objectively, he said the issue appeared to have stemmed from tensions between the Raja of Perlis and the former Menteri Besar, reportedly linked to certain development projects.

“From this, one could theorise that there may have been a coordinated effort by certain parties together with a faction within PN to remove the former Menteri Besar,” Arif said, adding that sensitivities around the 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues prevented a more direct discussion.

He noted that if genuine incompatibility had been the sole issue, Pas central leadership could have nominated another Menteri Besar candidate from within the party. Instead, Bersatu Perlis ended up taking over the position.

“Bersatu Perlis appeared to take advantage of the disagreement between the former Menteri Besar and the Raja of Perlis to seize the position,” he added.

Arif noted that Muhyiddin has been actively strategising as party president, with the Perlis PN crisis showing Pas’ growing dissatisfaction and the weakening of Hamzah’s faction, making an exit from PN increasingly possible.

He added that tensions go back to 2023, when current Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah clashed with Shukri and the Perlis PN leadership, escalating after Shukri declined to reappoint him as an executive councillor despite Muhyiddin’s support.

“Pas Perlis also faced internal issues, resulting in Shukri losing party positions within Pas Perlis, which were subsequently taken over by Shahidan Kassim,” he said.

Arif also highlighted that this reflected weaknesses in previous management of party relations within PN Perlis.

“This may also explain why Shahidan was later appointed as the Perlis PN chairman. Had this issue not surfaced, the dispute involving the Raja might have been managed by grassroots supporters of both Bersatu and Pas without escalating into open conflict,” he said.

Public sentiment on social media, he said showed many Pas supporters urging the party to contest independently, yet the Pas central leadership appeared focused only on reviving MN with Umno or staying in PN, with a solo run not considered.

Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun observed that the saga reflected both the broader Pas-Bersatu confrontation and state-level power struggles.

“There is a willingness at both national and state levels within Bersatu to challenge the primacy of Pas within PN.

“The state Bersatu side must also have discerned some dissatisfaction within the state-level Pas against Pas’ own MB. Seeing this opportunity, Bersatu made a move together with outliers in the state Pas,” he said when contacted.

Oh further highlighted that such manoeuvres were not unusual in coalition politics.