Universiti Malaya political analyst Associate Professor Azman Awang Pawi said this was clearly a tactical move by Pakatan as it did not wish to abandon PAS.
“The electoral pact was formed with PPBM so that it won’t be uncomfortable for PAS should it eventually decide to form an electoral pact with PPBM,” he told FMT.
Azman was responding to the electoral pact formalised yesterday between Pakatan and PPBM aimed at ensuring straight fights against the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming polls.
Despite the pact, PPBM still is not an official member of Pakatan Harapan.
Azman said this was the best strategy for Pakatan at present, “because PPBM is expected to serve as a bridge to connect the opposition with PAS”.
“If there is cooperation and an agreement with PAS in the future, it won’t be impossible for PAS to form an electoral pact and be an unofficial partner of Pakatan.”
Meanwhile, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said although PPBM and Pakatan had secured an electoral pact, there could be conflicts in the future.
“Negotiations for seats are going to be hard as usual for the opposition. Expect lots of horse trading.”
He said the formation of a government was going to be even trickier this time as Pakatan was “not a proper coalition that is ready to govern”.
“Umno will benefit from the fact that PAS isn’t in the pact,” he added.
Associate Professor Sivamurugan Pandian, a political analyst at Universiti Sains Malaysia, meanwhile, said if PAS remained out of the opposition coalition, it would be difficult to ensure straight fights with BN in the general election.
“The kingmaker is PAS for now.
“PPBM may have to decide later whether it wants to work with Pakatan or with PAS, considering that the agreement is merely an electoral pact.”
Sivamurugan pointed out that a similar move was made by the opposition during the 1990 general election when the now-defunct Umno splinter party Semangat 46 (S46) had made separate pacts with the Muslim as well as non-Muslim political parties.
“Separate pacts will reflect the opposition parties’ weakness in finding consensus.”