PAS Explains Different Election Strategies in Johor and Negeri Sembilan Based on Political Landscape
PETALING JAYA: PAS has defended its decision to adopt different electoral strategies in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, saying the party’s approach reflects the distinct political realities in each state and is aimed at strengthening Malay-Muslim political representation.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party’s role in the two state elections differs because of the respective political strengths of Umno and Pakatan Harapan (PH), requiring separate campaign strategies to achieve its broader political objectives.
In a statement, Abdul Hadi likened PAS’ role in the Johor state election to that of a football team’s defensive unit, explaining that the party was not seeking to dominate the contest but rather to help prevent what it viewed as a weakening of Malay political influence.
He said Johor remains a state where Umno commands significant political strength despite facing competition from PH, which is part of the Federal Government.
According to Abdul Hadi, PAS therefore contested symbolically in Johor while supporting broader Malay unity, arguing that the party’s objective was to reinforce the existing political position should circumstances affect Umno’s standing.
Using a football analogy, he described PAS as playing the role of defenders whose responsibility is to protect the goal and prevent the opposing side from securing victory, rather than focusing on scoring themselves.
By contrast, Abdul Hadi said PAS has adopted a far more offensive electoral strategy in Negeri Sembilan.
He argued that the political environment there requires the party to contest more actively with the aim of challenging the Pakatan Harapan-led state administration.
According to him, PAS intends to position itself as part of an electoral effort to regain political leadership through cooperation between Malay-Muslim voters and non-Muslim communities that the party considers moderate.
Abdul Hadi said the differing approaches demonstrate that electoral strategies should be tailored to local political circumstances rather than applied uniformly across all states.
His remarks came in reference to the electoral understanding between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), excluding Bersatu, for the Negeri Sembilan state election scheduled on August 1.
Under the arrangement, BN will contest 25 of the 36 state seats, while PN component parties comprising PAS, Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) will field candidates in the remaining 11 constituencies, avoiding direct contests between the two coalitions.
The latest explanation also follows Abdul Hadi’s directive during the Johor state election on July 11, in which he instructed PAS members and supporters to vote for BN candidates in constituencies where Perikatan Nasional did not field candidates.
He maintained that PAS’ electoral decisions in both Johor and Negeri Sembilan are guided by strategic political considerations that vary according to local conditions, with the party seeking to maximise its influence while adapting to the balance of political forces in each state.
