Annuar's Pas entry may tilt the scale in PN's favour, mostly in Kelantan - analyst

SHAH ALAM - Former Umno leader Tan Sri Annuar Musa's decision to join Pas will have an impact but it is expected to be limited to Kelantan and Terengganu.

International Islamic University Malaysia IIUM) associate professor of Political Science Dr Syaza Shukri said Pas and Perikatan Nasional will benefit as more former Umno leaders joined the party.

She said Annuar could influence Malay voters to tilt the scale in PN’s favour, mostly in Kelantan.

"There won't be significant consequences and that most voters have made up their minds about which party they intend to vote for,” she said.

Syaza said the 3,000 new members are the people who mostly supported PN for the first time in the previous election, referring to Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who claimed that 3,000 new members join the Islamic party yesterday.

“We are seeing a lot of new voters who were not keen in politics before the automatic registration have made their choice,” she said.

Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said Pas may be the most suitable party for Annuar.

“Yes it would benefit Pas but the benefit may only in Kelantan or maybe Terrenganu and maybe Kedah since these three states has a stronger presence of Pas.

“So I would assume that the value of Annuar joining Pas will be very minimum. Yes there will be some positive impact but it will be very minimum,” Azmi said.

He further said Pas would benefit from big names from Umno who enjoy significant popularity not only in Kelantan and Terengganu but also in other states, especially in Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan.

“The new members joining Pas together with Annuar, most probably these members are from Kelantan state," he said.

“So I think Pas needs more than people like Tan Sri Annuar Musa similar to Shahidan Kassim for Pas in Perlis," he said.

Pacific Research Center principal adviser Oh Ei Sun said even without Annuar and Muafakat Nasional (MN), Pas is strong due to their outstanding electoral performance in the last general election.

“With Annuar, a Kelantan Umno stalwart, joining its ranks, Pas would be stronger.

“Certainly it affects PH-Umno votes as it will further detract their already minuscule vote banks among increasingly conservative Malays,” Oh said.