Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the Islamist party’s strong Malay support may be cause for concern for Umno.
“Bringing PAS into the unity government (may make) Umno feel cast away, as PAS is too dominant in procuring Malay support,” Azmi told FMT.
He said the recent state polls and two by-elections in Johor and Pahang indicate a growing level of support among Malays for PAS.
“Similarly, MIC or MCA are not happy staying in Barisan Nasional because they have been cast away or seem unimportant, because DAP is so dominant in the government,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must also learn how to manage the relationship between DAP and PAS.
“It’s somewhat like the north and south, they vastly differ in terms of their ideologies and political principles,” he added.
However, Azmi said he is uncertain whether PAS would be willing to part ways with Perikatan Nasional as the coalition still believes it can eventually form the federal government.
He said PAS might consider joining the unity government if the party accepts that it cannot depend entirely on Malay voters to establish the federal government.
“I believe there will come a day when PAS realises that it cannot rely on Malay voters 100% to form the federal government,” he added.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said PAS’s inclusion could contribute to national stability and provide Anwar substantial support in the Dewan Rakyat, empowering him to pursue various reforms and initiatives.
“Of course, the advantage for Anwar and his government when PAS joins the unity government is that Anwar will have the largest support in the Dewan Rakyat.
“This will certainly allow Anwar to pursue his reforms. He can introduce various reforms in the Dewan Rakyat,” said Mazlan.
In a recent interview with TIME Magazine, Anwar confirmed that an offer was indeed made to PAS to join his administration.
When asked about the response he received from the party, the prime minister said PAS neither gave him a positive answer nor a clear rejection.
He indicated that the door for PAS to join his administration was still open, “contingent” upon major policy conditions being accepted.