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Malaysia’s opposition bloc in turmoil as PAS cuts ties with Bersatu

Malaysia’s most powerful Islamist party has cut ties with a former electoral ally, blowing open a bitter feud within the country’s main opposition bloc as…

By Samantha Johnson / June 9, 2026
Malaysia’s most powerful Islamist party has cut ties with a former electoral ally, blowing open a bitter feud within the country’s main opposition bloc as several key elections loom.
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) president Abdul Hadi Awang announced late on Monday that the party’s central working committee had decided to “terminate political cooperation with Bersatu”, endorsing an earlier decision by its Syura Council, the party’s highest religious decision-making body.
The partnership had given Malaysia’s opposition a powerful Malay-Muslim backbone. PAS brought the country’s biggest parliamentary party, deep religious networks and formidable election machinery across the northern and east coast heartland, while Bersatu brought the name recognition of its co-founder Muhyiddin Yassin – a former Umno heavyweight who served as prime minister after the collapse of a previous Pakatan Harapan government in 2020.
Malaysia’s then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin takes part in a virtual Apec summit in November 2020. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
Malaysia’s then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin takes part in a virtual Apec summit in November 2020. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Monday’s move stopped short of formally withdrawing PAS from Perikatan Nasional (PN), the Malay-Muslim opposition coalition built around the two parties. But it does throw the bloc into deep uncertainty ahead of snap state polls in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, and a general election that must be held by early 2028.

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PAS said it would now “explore a form of political understanding and electoral pact” in the name of Muslim unity, signalling that the party was already looking beyond its uneasy partnership with Bersatu for the coming state polls and the next national vote.

The announcement came barely 24 hours after Muhyiddin had tried to project calm, saying Bersatu remained committed to preserving ties with PAS. Speaking on Sunday, the Bersatu president said he had received a letter from PAS secretary general Takiyuddin Hassan concerning relations between the parties and proposals to strengthen PN.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers a speech to parliament in 2024. PAS i the single largest party in the in the 222-member lower house of parliament. Photo: Malaysia’s Department of Information/AFP
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers a speech to parliament in 2024. PAS i the single largest party in the in the 222-member lower house of parliament. Photo: Malaysia’s Department of Information/AFP

“I have received a letter from the PAS secretary general dated June 6, 2026, regarding the relationship between Bersatu and PAS as well as proposals to strengthen PN,” Muhyiddin said in a statement.

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