The Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) recent suspension of Perikatan Nasional’s activities may complicate the coalition’s preparations for the upcoming Melaka state election, with smaller component parties potentially facing greater challenges than bigger members like PAS, according to political analysts.
ROS announced on Tuesday that it had suspended all activities of Perikatan Nasional effective the following day. The move came after the ROS sought an explanation from the coalition in response to a complaint filed by Bersatu, a key member party within Perikatan. The timing of the suspension has raised concerns over its impact on campaign efforts, especially as Melaka’s nomination day approaches.
Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, a political analyst at Universiti Malaya, noted that disruption could extend beyond the use of Perikatan’s name and logo, affecting campaign coordination, candidate selection, joint events, and the morale of local party machinery. He added that PAS, with its well-established grassroots network and widely recognized “moon” logo, may be less affected by the suspension than smaller parties within the coalition.
In contrast, Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), another Perikatan component, may face significant setbacks. Dr Azmi Hassan, senior fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, observed that Wawasan’s relatively unfamiliar logo could present a challenge if the suspension forces the party to campaign without leveraging the Perikatan brand. “For Melaka voters, it will be a new symbol,” he said, suggesting this could hinder Wawasan’s visibility and voter recognition.
Azmi also pointed out that the suspension may alter seat negotiations within the opposition. Traditionally, Perikatan coordinates seat distribution among its components, but the ROS ruling could enable Barisan Nasional to negotiate directly with PAS. Barisan Nasional currently holds the Melaka government after winning 21 of 28 seats in the 2021 elections and has committed to defending all its seats, potentially leaving only seven seats available for opposition parties.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian described the suspension as an operational setback for Perikatan, especially regarding campaign coordination and joint activities. He emphasized that PAS and Bersatu remain active political players despite the freeze but questioned whether their individual party structures could effectively substitute the coalition’s collective machinery. He noted that the suspension’s ultimate effect depends on how swiftly Perikatan resolves the issue and the degree of cooperation between PAS and Bersatu.
The development may also create strategic opportunities for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, who won five seats in the last election. However, analysts caution against drawing premature conclusions, as the situation remains fluid and contingent on forthcoming campaign dynamics ahead of Melaka’s polls.