PAS‘s show of dominance at its annual muktamar could backfire, with analysts warning that the Islamic party risks alienating allies and voters ahead of the 16th general election (GE16).
At the assembly, Penang PAS ulama council member Shafirul Rozani called for the chairmanship of Penang Perikatan Nasional to be taken away from Gerakan president Dominic Lau.
Lau, a PN deputy chairman, was also told by a PAS leader recently to leave a ceramah, after he showed up uninvited.
Setting an ambitious target of winning 80 parliamentary seats, nearly double its current tally of 43, the party also passed a resolution calling for PAS to lead PN into GE16, with the aim of retaining Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, and expanding its reach in Selangor, Perak and Pahang.
However, analysts said such confidence is misplaced.
Ilham Centre’s Hisomuddin Bakar said the muktamar was a chance for PAS to broaden its support, especially as it was being closely watched by Malaysians of all races.
“But what PAS showed was arrogance. Instead of aligning itself with Bersatu, which they worked with in the 2022 general election, they sidelined it and criticised the Chinese-majority Gerakan,” Hisomuddin told FMT.
He said publicly humiliating Lau at the muktamar only highlighted PAS’s lack of inclusivity.
“This will trigger a backlash rather than confidence,” he said.
He added that PAS’s success at GE15 came from PN’s brand, Bersatu’s appeal, and Muhyiddin Yassin’s “Abah” image, as amplified by TikTok campaigns — not PAS’s own logo or leadership.
Hisomuddin also warned that the Islamic party’s 80-seat target was unrealistic as contesting mixed constituencies would require support from non-Malay voters.
Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said Gerakan could not be blamed for failing to attract Chinese voters as PAS’s hardline views on religion and race made coalition-building harder.
“PAS acts like the king in PN and feels it can say anything, even if it damages allies,” he said.
Hisomuddin also pointed to unresolved tensions between PAS’s ulama and professional factions.
The ulamas, he said, continue to dominate the party’s leadership, forcing professionals to mimic religious leaders to survive — which he said eroded credibility and diversity within the party.
He also said PAS risks isolating itself, noting that it has not conducted any research into voter psychology ahead of the muktamar, which ran from Sept 11 to 16 at the PAS Kedah Complex in Kota Sarang Semut.
“The muktamar can be considered the starting point to going back to their political stone age.
“Overconfidence and arrogance will collapse their ambition to win 80 seats or control more states,” Hisomuddin said.
“Instead of unity, PAS has created division. That is their biggest loss.”
