Understanding Why Umno is Leaning on Islam and PAS

Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman and Prashant Waikar

TODAY

16 December 2019

In its general assembly earlier this month, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) made clear that its near-term tactic is to double down on religion and a fledgling partnership with its former arch enemy, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).

Emphasising its relationship with PAS was politically expedient and understandable. Umno and PAS have the largest base of supporters among Malays. They are also the two largest parties in Malaysia. That said, it would be simplistic to suggest that the alliance between them will be without significant challenges.

…Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman is an Assistant Professor with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, and a Fulbright Visiting Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. He is co-editor with Edmund Terence Gomez of Malaysia’s 14th General Election and Umno’s Fall: Intra-Elite Feuding in the Pursuit of Power. Prashant Waikar is a Senior Analyst with RSIS’ Malaysia Programme.

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Last updated on 18/12/2019