How does PAS benefit from defeats of DAP and Pakatan Harapan?

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PAS Benefits from the Defeats of DAP and Pakatan Harapan by Consolidating Malay Power

PAS benefits from the defeats of DAP and Pakatan Harapan by reducing threats to a unified Malay political front and intensifying pressure to incorporate electoral gains into a larger Malay-led coalition. This strategy aims to position PAS as the senior leader in any future Malay power structure, regardless of immediate electoral outcomes for its coalition partners. The party's approach bypasses policy discussions, focusing instead on a singular question of Malay leadership and leveraging the perception of external threats to secure Muslim solidarity.
Intensifying Pressure for Malay Union

The defeats suffered by Pakatan Harapan, particularly by DAP, serve PAS's long-term objective of consolidating Malay political power. By weakening these opposition parties, PAS aims to create an environment where a "grand union of Malay power" can be established, with PAS at its helm. This strategy is evident in PAS's efforts to ensure that all election wins, even those under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, are ultimately seen as contributions to a larger framework led by PAS, a concept referred to as the "Muafakat Nasional bag."
Strategic Alliances and Electoral Maneuvering

PAS has demonstrated a willingness to engage in strategic maneuvering to support its allies and advance its agenda. For instance, PAS President Hadi Awang promised to cede PAS's electoral victories to Umno if the latter did not secure sufficient seats. This tactic was intended to encourage PAS's voter base to prioritize support for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in direct contests against Pakatan Harapan, thereby contributing to BN's electoral successes, such as its best performance since 2013 in the Johor polls. This suggests a complex interplay where even perceived defeats for PAS candidates can serve the broader goal of strengthening Malay-centric political outcomes.
Framing DAP as an Existential Threat

A core element of PAS's strategy is to foster Muslim solidarity by portraying the Democratic Action Party (DAP) as an existential threat to the Muslim way of life. This narrative is consistently employed to galvanize its base and bypass substantive policy debates, redirecting focus towards identity politics. By emphasizing this perceived threat, PAS seeks to unite the Muslim electorate under its leadership and position itself as the primary defender of Malay-Muslim interests.
Long-Term Vision for Malay Leadership

PAS's ultimate aim appears to be national power achieved through the consolidation of Malay political strength. The party's electoral performance, even when modest, is viewed within the context of this larger ambition. By weakening rival Malay-based parties and non-Malay dominated opposition, PAS seeks to create a political landscape where its model of unapologetic race-based politics becomes dominant, positioning itself as the most senior leader in a future Malay-led administration.

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How does PAS benefit from defeats of DAP and Pakatan Harapan?

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