BARISAN Nasional could be heading for a wider electoral clash with Wawasan at the next general election, with former UMNO member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi predicting that the coalition will contest all 19 parliamentary seats associated with the group.
Puad said BN’s decision to field a candidate in Sungai Udang for the Melaka state election was a sign that the coalition would not concede ground to Wawasan, with the implications potentially extending beyond the state polls.
“BN fielding a candidate in Sungai Udang proves that BN rejects Wawasan,” he said in a Facebook post.
He added that BN would field candidates in all 19 parliamentary seats linked to Wawasan at the 16th general election.
The prediction was Puad’s own assessment, not an official announcement by BN on its candidate allocation for GE16.
Puad also expects PAS to defend Wawasan if the group’s interests come into conflict with BN, drawing a comparison with the party’s support for Bersatu during the early days of Perikatan Nasional.
“PAS will certainly defend Wawasan, just as it defended Bersatu in the early days of PN. PAS will not allow BN to become dominant,” he said.
His remarks suggest that any attempt to bring BN and PAS closer together could face difficulties if both sides pursue competing electoral interests.
Puad questioned whether cooperation between the two parties would guarantee political stability, arguing that PAS had its own ambitions and would not necessarily accept Umno’s leadership.
He also cast doubt on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s prospects of becoming prime minister, saying PAS had its own plans and was not ready to be pushed into a common political platform with Umno.
“Zahid is not necessarily going to become prime minister. PAS has other plans. PAS is not ready to be forced onto the same platform as Umno,” he said.
The remarks expose a potential fault line in future political negotiations, particularly if BN seeks to expand its electoral reach while PAS continues to defend its own allies.
For now, the contest in Sungai Udang is a state election matter.
But Puad’s reading of the move points to a larger question ahead of GE16: whether BN and Wawasan will emerge as direct rivals across the country, and where PAS will stand if their interests collide. – October 26, 2026
