KOTA BARU: Pas and Umno may be forced to form a pact if the mood of voters in Kelantan changes in the coming general election, said DAP's Kluang Member of Parliament and central executive member Liew Chin Tong.
He said today if that was to happen, the myth of Pas being a strong third force might just be a farce.
Liew said in all elections since coming back into power in 1990, the presence of the late Pas spiritual adviser and Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat was a constant positive factor.
"However, with Pas being seen closely aligned to Umno in recent times, and with Umno being bogged down by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s unpopularity, Pas is slowly losing its regional and anti-federal party streak in the eyes of many Kelantan people," he said.
Liew also said Kelantan boasts a large diaspora of people living in the Klang Valley who continue to return home to vote.
"Some researchers believe that more than 20 per cent of Kelantan voters reside outside the state. Most of the time, they vote according to national mood swing which currently does not favour Najib and whoever associated with him," he said.
Liew said assuming Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) could pose a serious challenge to Pas in 10 of its 33 incumbent state seats while Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) was able to do so in five of Umno’s 12 incumbent state constituencies, Pas and Umno might not have the luxury of contesting against each other in Kelantan.
He said assuming also PAN, PPBM and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) do not contest against each other but formed a formidable coalition, battling either Pas or Umno, or even both, in three or four corner fights, the major losers would not be the Pakatan Harapan and PPBM.
"If Pas and Umno can’t find an agreement to form an electoral pact, and decide to fight each other while Pakatan and PPBM formed a coalition to put a single candidate in each seat, no one would be certain of the outcome of the seats especially the marginal ones." he said.