Bersatu Chief Say PAS Never Truly Committed to Perikatan

Malaysia’s ruling coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN), is on the brink of collapse as Bersatu, its largest component party, formally accused the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) of failing to uphold its commitments to the alliance. The rift, confirmed by Bersatu’s information chief Fadhlina Sidek on Monday, escalates a months-long feud over policy disagreements and internal governance disputes, with Bersatu now framing the split as a matter of ideological betrayal.

In a statement released to reporters, Sidek said PAS had “never truly committed” to the coalition’s shared principles, citing repeated violations of PN’s constitution and unilateral decisions that undermined the alliance’s unity. “PAS’s actions have shown a lack of loyalty to the coalition,” she said. “We have reached a point where we can no longer ignore these breaches.” The remarks came hours after PAS’s Selangor Youth chief, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, warned that any PN decisions must adhere to the constitution—not the whims of individual parties—a direct rebuttal to Bersatu’s accusations.

Why is this split significant?

The collapse of PN would mark the first time since 2018 that Malaysia’s political landscape lacks a stable governing coalition, potentially triggering a snap election or a prolonged period of caretaker rule. Bersatu, led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, has vowed to “fight PAS on all fronts,” including legally and through public campaigns, according to a senior party official who requested anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Meanwhile, PAS—led by Abdul Hadi Awang—has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, insisting its decisions are constitutionally sound.

A third party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), has remained publicly neutral, though internal sources suggest its leaders are privately relieved by the infighting, viewing it as an opportunity to regain dominance in the Malay political space. UMNO’s silence contrasts sharply with Bersatu’s aggressive stance; in a rare public intervention, former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad—who once led UMNO—warned that the split could destabilize the country’s fragile economic recovery.

What happens next?

Bersatu has already begun mobilizing its grassroots network, with local branches instructed to prepare for a potential exit from PN. PAS, meanwhile, has convened an emergency meeting of its central committee to strategize its next moves, though no formal announcement of a breakaway has been made. Legal experts consulted by world-today-news.com say a formal dissolution of PN would require a two-thirds majority vote from its constituent parties—a threshold Bersatu appears confident it can secure.

Adding to the tension, Annuar Musa, a senior Bersatu leader and former minister, urged party members to “stay calm” and avoid inflammatory rhetoric, acknowledging that the coalition’s collapse could trigger political chaos. “We must focus on the interests of the people, not personal vendettas,” he said in a televised address. However, his plea has done little to quell the rising hostility between the two parties.

The immediate fallout includes a freeze on PN’s policy-making machinery, with key initiatives—including a controversial Islamic financing bill—now stalled. Economic analysts warn that the uncertainty could spook investors, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, where PN had been courting foreign capital.

A deeper look: How did we get here?

The seeds of the split were sown in late 2023, when PAS and Bersatu clashed over the allocation of state resources in Kelantan and Terengganu, two states where PAS holds power. Bersatu accused PAS of sidelining coalition partners in key appointments, while PAS countered that Bersatu was obstructing its religious policies. The feud escalated in March when PAS unilaterally appointed a new chief minister in Kelantan without consulting PN’s central leadership—a move Bersatu called a “violation of our agreement.”

In contrast to previous alliances, PN was uniquely fragile from its inception, formed in 2020 as a last-minute coalition of convenience after the fall of Mahathir’s government. Unlike its predecessors, it lacked a shared ideological foundation, relying instead on mutual distrust of UMNO. That fragility is now on full display, with both parties accusing the other of reneging on verbal promises rather than written agreements—a hallmark of Malaysian politics where coalitions often dissolve over perceived slights.

The next critical test will come at PN’s next scheduled meeting, where Bersatu is expected to table a formal motion to dissolve the alliance. If passed, the party will immediately begin negotiations with UMNO and other opposition groups, potentially reshaping Malaysia’s political map ahead of the next general election, which must be held by August 2025.

For now, the only certainty is that the alliance’s collapse is no longer a matter of if, but when. The question remains whether Malaysia’s political class can navigate the fallout without plunging the country into deeper instability.