Pas staying in opposition healthy for democracy, say political analysts

SHAH ALAM - Pas remaining as the opposition is healthy for democracy as the likelihood of the party joining the unity government will be a huge loss for the party, political analysts say.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) senior lecturer Dr Nur Ayuni Mohd Isa said it was impossible to predict or agree with the proposition that Pas would join the unity government.

"The risks and benefits of a political coalition are usually considered when party principles are met between the parties.

"Pas appears to be sticking to the party’s principles, promising not to form a political alliance with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) bloc.

"Pas is currently proposing an anti-DAP sentiment because of the presumably past experience of a coalition with the party.

"So the anti-DAP movement is growing stronger among Pas rank and file," Ayuni told Sinar Daily.

However, she said the likelihood of Pas joining the unity government will be a loss for the party, as Pas will lose its dominance in Perikatan Nasional (PN) compared to the PH-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance.

She said it was hard for Pas to form a coalition with PH-BN because now Pas has dominance in PN.

Meanwhile, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) political analyst Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said it was a good decision for all parties to have Pas stay in the opposition.

"Let Malaysia have an opposition that is supposed to play its role.

"At the end of the day, the states under Pas are governed under Pas. How prosperous or developed it will be depends on how Pas manages those states, with or without the unity government," Syaza said.

Echoing these views, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Institute of Ethnic Studies Deputy Director Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib@Khalid said for Pas to stay as the opposition was very healthy for the democracy.

"We need a strong opposition, as being the opposition does not limit Pas from approving the recent budget announcement.

"The unity government is persuading Pas to join them for the government to get a two-thirds majority endorsement for the budget approval.

"In realpolitik, Pas does not need to join the unity government, but it can decide to approve the budget if it is in the people's interest," Kartini said.

Previously, Pas denied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's claim of extending an olive branch and offering the Islamist party a chance to join the unity government.

Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said no such offer has been received by the party.

It was reported that Anwar made the alleged offer in an exclusive interview with Time magazine, expressing his willingness to include Pas in the government.

Meanwhile, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the only offer they received was during the formation of the unity government, which they declined to respect the people's mandate in the 15th General Election (GE15) and as a result, Pas remained committed to the opposition bloc.