From 43 to 80: Malaysia’s Islamist opposition party PAS sets target for parliamentary seats at next GE
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia had set out to win 40 seats at the November 2022 general election, eventually snagging 43 of the 222 seats in parliament.
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia flags on an overhead bridge in Rusila, Terengganu, overlooking the South China Sea. (Photo: CNA/Try Sutrisno Foo)
ALOR SETAR, Kedah: Malaysia’s opposition Islamist party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) aims to win 80 parliamentary seats at the country’s next general election, its vice-president said on Saturday (Sep 13), as part of its bid to return to federal power.
This even as the party aims to retain control over the state legislatures of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.
“In the next general election, our target is 80 seats. We want to build on the 43 we already hold,” Mohd Amar Abdullah, 66, was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) after the launch of its women’s wing assembly at the Kedah PAS complex.
Amar told local media that the party had set out to win 40 seats at the November 2022 general election, eventually snagging 43 of the 222 seats in parliament.
It emerged as the party with the highest number of seats in Malaysia’s House of Representatives.
Malaysia’s next general election is due by 2028.
On Saturday, Amar said that the party also intends to contest seven seats in the upcoming Sabah state election, which is expected to be held by the end of this year.
The term for Sabah’s 73-seat state legislative assembly ends in November, and polls must be held within 60 days of the assembly being dissolved.
Political leaders and analysts have previously told CNA that the results for the Sabah poll could shape dynamics between Putrajaya and the Borneo state, amid growing calls for local parties to be dominant in governing the state.
‘WIN NON-MALAY SUPPORT’
FMT reported Amar as saying that PAS should seize the opportunity to boost support from its non-traditional supporter base, amid what he claimed to be growing discontent with the current unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“Today, it is not unusual for non-Malays to openly express disappointment and dissatisfaction with PH, compared with two years ago when the coalition was at its peak in the first year after taking over Putrajaya,” Amar reportedly said, referring to Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition that is in federal power alongside Barisan Nasional (BN).
“This presents a big opportunity for the opposition, including PAS, to take advantage. We must capitalise on this opportunity to win non-Malay support.”
Between 2020 and 2022, PAS was part of the federal government in the Perikatan Nasional coalition alongside Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Prior to that, it was part of the BN federal government from 1974 to 1977.
Ahead of its annual general meeting on Sep 15 and Sep 16, PAS retained its top brass with president Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man continuing to lead the party for the 2025 to 2027 term after being returned unopposed.
Incumbent vice-presidents Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Idris Ahmad and Amar also retained their positions without contest.
Elections, however, will be held for positions in the Central Working Committee for the 2025 to 2027 term after 38 candidates accepted nominations by others for them to contest.
