00:01PAS's push to assume leadership of Perikatan National will reinforce the coalition's identity as a Malay-Islamic bloc
00:09and alienate the non-Malay voters it hopes to court, say analysts.
00:14Shaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said that while Bersatu has tried to act as a buffer between PAS and non-Malayas,
00:23its efforts have not sufficiently softened PN's image.
00:28On December 30, past Secretary-General Takeyuddin Hassan said the party was prepared to assume leadership of PN
00:36following Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that he would step down as the coalition's chairman.
00:43Siva Murugan Pandian of University Science Malaysia said PN's strategy so far has focused more on consolidating the Malay vote
00:51rather than expanding its multiracial appeal, warning that without a more inclusive narrative,
00:57PN risks shrinking as a national coalition.
01:02Ilham Sentis Hisomuddin Bakar said PAS should not underestimate the value of the PN brand,
01:08adding that the coalition's logo could help reduce voter resistance as many voters see themselves not as supporting PAS or Bersatu,
01:16but as rejecting Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.
01:21He urged PAS to build on Muhyiddin's efforts to broaden PN's appeal and strengthen the opposition bloc,
01:27particularly the push to establish the Ikatan Perihatin Rakyat Alliance,
01:32made up of 11 opposition parties, and bring MIC on board.
01:37Pan Yuzhou, FMT.
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