UMNO-PAS cooperation aimed only at seizing Anwar's power, claims Amanah youth wing

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 AUGUST 2026 —

Amanah’s youth wing accused UMNO and PAS of cooperating only to seize power and remove Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, using Malay unity as a pretext.

He questioned which segment of the Malay community the two parties claimed to unite, saying the emphasis on Malay unity was merely a political tool to consolidate strength against Anwar’s government. “They are using it as capital, as a point for them to come together,” he said.

Ahmad Shahir argued the collaboration should be viewed as a political strategy to build a joint force against Anwar’s administration, not as a genuine effort for Malay unity. “The cooperation between PAS and UMNO needs to be viewed not merely as an effort for Malay unity, but as a political strategy to form a shared strength to face Anwar and his government,” he said.

UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had earlier said Barisan Nasional would not cede any of the 21 state seats it won in the Melaka 2021 polls to other parties. Analysts at Ilham Centre noted that if parliamentary seats were allocated based on Melaka’s state constituencies, Perikatan Nasional would have won in 10, compared with BN’s four.

PN’s demand for more seats risks complicating BN’s goal of retaining all 21 seats it currently holds in Melaka.

Amanah’s criticism highlights rising tensions between political blocs ahead of the next general election, where coalition strategies and seat allocations will be decisive. For Malaysian business readers, the political manoeuvring raises policy uncertainty, particularly for investors seeking stable governance and predictable regulatory environments.