‘BN will gain from PASPKR breakup’

POLITICAL analysts foresee threecornered fights in many constituencies in the 14th general election (GE14) following a decision by the PAS Dewan Ulama to sever ties with PKR, saying this will benefit Barisan Nasional (BN) while Pakatan Harapan will lose votes.

But the biggest loser will be PAS, which may even lose its grip on Kelantan, they opined.

Although the PAS Syura Council – the party’s highest decision-making body – has yet to make a final decision on the Dewan Ulama motion to end cooperation with PKR, the writing is already on the wall, judging from the strong response from delegates at the PAS annual convention in Alor Star.

Political analyst Dr Thock Kiah Wah told China Press in an interview published yesterday that regardless of the PAS Syura Council’s final decision, the bridge of trust between the two parties has already been burnt and threecornered fights are inevitable.

He said an official severance of ties between PAS and PKR will also affect the stability of the Selangor government (as PKR and DAP will be left running an administration with a very slim majority without PAS).

PAS intends to run as part of a third coalition to create an “Islamic political tsunami”, but there is no sign yet that it will be a force to reckon with, Thock said, pointing out that BN is the real beneficiary of a PAS-PKR breakup.

“Even if Umno and PAS cooperate in GE14, Kelantan will still see threecornered fights.

“I believe Amanah will dilute support for PAS. Malay voters may be torn between PAS and Umno, causing PAS to lose seats it won marginally in the last election or even the state.”

Another political analyst, Datuk Dr Cheah See Kian, said with the severance of ties with PKR, PAS may find it tough to win even 10 parliamentary seats in GE14, let alone repeat its previous feat of capturing 21 seats.