What does the analyst say about Umno and PAS competing for Malay-Muslim voters?

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Analyst Believes Umno and PAS Will Compete for the Same Malay-Muslim Electorate

An analyst has stated that Umno and PAS are unlikely to form an alliance for the upcoming general election due to their direct competition for the support of the same Malay-Muslim voter base. This competition is expected to stem primarily from disputes over the division of constituencies, rather than fundamental political differences.
Competition Over Constituencies

Dr Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, indicated that the primary point of contention between Umno and PAS would be the allocation of electoral districts. He suggested that leaders within both parties would fiercely defend their existing territories and candidacies within their respective parliamentary or state constituencies.
Pragmatic Political Landscape

The analyst posited that the perceived ideological differences between Umno and PAS would not be the main obstacle to an electoral pact. Instead, he highlighted that Malaysian politics often operates on pragmatic and materialistic grounds, suggesting that practical considerations regarding electoral strongholds would take precedence.
Potential for Post-Election Cooperation

While ruling out a pre-election alliance, Dr Oh expressed optimism about the possibility of a post-election coalition between Umno and PAS. He noted that any party securing a significant number of seats could become a negotiating force in forming the subsequent government, irrespective of their pre-election pacts.
Umno's Strategic Considerations

Separately, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan suggested that Umno's openness to collaboration with PAS, as indicated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's invitation, might stem from a perceived decline in non-Malay support. This move could be interpreted as Umno seeking to consolidate its base among ethnic Malays by partnering with an existing party to expand its supporter network.

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What does the analyst say about Umno and PAS competing for Malay-Muslim voters?

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