HKMalaysia's largest Islamist party, PAS, suffered a significant defeat in Johor's recent state election, losing all its parliamentary seats. Despite this loss, PAS is attempting to leverage its remaining support base to negotiate with the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is led by Umno. The article highlights the historical rivalry between PAS and BN over Malay-Muslim voter allegiance, while noting instances of past cooperation. New constituency data casts doubt on PAS's ability to consistently shift its support to BN, especially if collaboration becomes necessary. This uncertainty is particularly relevant in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, where BN has decided to contest only 25 of the 36 seats, potentially leaving others open for PAS or other Malay-Muslim allies. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan mentioned BN's intention to approach the election with 'an understanding with friends', suggesting a possible alliance strategy.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the political dynamics between PAS and BN, discussing both their historical rivalry and past collaborations. It does not overtly favor one party over the other, instead focusing on the strategic implications of PAS's potential influence in the upcoming NegeriS
