PAS has formally ended its political cooperation with Bersatu, declaring that the once-close alliance can no longer coexist under the same political umbrella following irreconcilable differences over the future direction of opposition politics and efforts to broaden Malay-Muslim political unity.
The decision, announced after a special meeting of PAS' Central Working Committee, marks the most significant fracture within the opposition bloc since the formation of Perikatan Nasional and raises fresh questions over the coalition's future ahead of the next general election.
Defending the move, PAS Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari described the separation as an unpleasant but unavoidable step.
"The most important matter for PAS is the unity of the ummah. When Bersatu, during the Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council meeting, took a position opposing the admission of parties such as BERJASA, PEJUANG, IMAN and PUTRA despite a proposal paper already being prepared, that action clearly undermined the unity agenda that we have long sought to achieve," he said in a statement.
He characterised the decision as a difficult political choice rather than a victory.
The move comes after months of increasingly strained relations between the two parties, with disputes in Perlis and Negeri Sembilan emerging as key flashpoints that exposed deeper disagreements within the coalition.
According to Ahmad Fadhli, the fallout from those episodes significantly weakened the morale of PAS grassroots machinery and raised serious concerns about the viability of continuing electoral cooperation with Bersatu.
Following the final decision reached at the party's meeting, he made clear that PAS no longer sees a future for the partnership.
"The decision made by PAS yesterday is not something that brings joy, but it is for the greater good of the future."
Despite the separation, PAS stressed that matters concerning both parties' positions within Perikatan Nasional would be handled through constitutional mechanisms and established procedures to ensure an orderly transition and prevent wider political instability.
A Political Partnership That Reshaped Malaysia
The breakdown of relations closes a political chapter that began shortly after Bersatu's establishment in 2016 by figures including former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin.
Initially, relations between PAS and Bersatu were cautious. Bersatu joined the opposition alliance alongside People's Justice Party and Democratic Action Party, while PAS pursued its own political path through the Gagasan Sejahtera coalition during the 2018 general election.
Their relationship began to warm in 2019 as both parties expressed concerns over the stability of the Pakatan Harapan administration. That convergence culminated in the political upheaval known as the Sheraton Move in February 2020.
After Bersatu withdrew from Pakatan Harapan, PAS and Bersatu joined forces to establish a new federal government led by Muhyiddin, giving birth to the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
From 2020 onwards, the two parties became indispensable partners, sharing governmental responsibilities, election strategies and a common opposition platform after losing federal power.
Their cooperation reached its electoral peak during the 2022 General Election, when Perikatan Nasional achieved its strongest performance to date and PAS emerged as the coalition's largest parliamentary party.
The alliance remained intact through the 2023 state elections and throughout 2024, despite occasional disagreements over strategy and seat allocations.
However, tensions reportedly intensified towards the end of 2024 amid internal factional struggles within Bersatu and growing disagreements over the coalition's future direction.
By 2025 and into 2026, relations had deteriorated sharply, particularly following political disputes in Perlis that triggered increasingly public exchanges between leaders from both parties.
The final rupture came this week when PAS concluded that the partnership could no longer serve its broader political objectives.
Within Malaysian politics, the split represents the end of a relationship that evolved from cautious cooperation into one of the country's most influential political alliances before collapsing amid competing visions for the future of the opposition movement. - June 9, 2026
