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PAS now the main pillar of PN, says party leader

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  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, September 21st 2025 at 5:02 GMT by Free Malaysia Today
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PAS now the main pillar of PN, says party leader – What it means for Malaysia’s 2025 political landscape

On 21 September 2025, Free Malaysia Today ran a front‑page piece titled “PAS now the main pillar of PN says party leader” that unpacked a seismic shift inside one of the country’s biggest political alliances – Perikatan Nasional (PN). The article, which draws heavily on a speech delivered by PAS chief Annuar Musa at the party’s annual congress in Kota Bharu, explains why the Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, PAS) is now positioned as the “backbone” of PN and how that realignment could shape the 2025 general election (GE2025) and the future of Malay‑Muslim political discourse.

A brief recap of PN’s origins

PN was formed in 2020, after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. The alliance was initially a coalition of Bersatu (UMNO‑breakaway), PAS, and a handful of regional parties such as the Gagasan Rakyat (GR) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)‑aligned groups. Its founding charter was designed to present a united front on “Islamic values, economic revival, and good governance.” For the first two years, PN’s policy direction was dominated by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the former Prime Minister and Bersatu’s chairperson, who held the coalition’s leadership chair.

However, the political calculus began to shift after the 2023 Sabah and Sarawak state elections, where PAS made significant gains in the east. By mid‑2024, PAS had taken a more active role in drafting the coalition’s policy platform and had begun to dominate key committees within PN, prompting a real‑time reshuffling of power dynamics.

Annuar Musa’s landmark statement

In the article, Annuar Musa is quoted as saying:

“PAS is now the main pillar of PN. Our commitment to the people of Malaysia, grounded in Islamic principles and the rule of law, will steer the coalition’s agenda moving forward. Bersatu remains a vital partner, but the soul of PN lies in our shared vision for a just, equitable, and Islamic society.”

The Free Malaysia Today piece highlights that Musa’s remarks came after a record‑setting turnout of over 60 % at the PAS congress, indicating a surge of grassroots enthusiasm. The speech emphasized PAS’s role as a policy‑making engine, especially on issues such as:

• Islamic finance: expanding Sharia‑compliant banking and financial products nationwide.
• Education: advocating for a “dual system” that balances secular subjects with Islamic values.
• Social welfare: pushing for a national Zakat fund to reduce poverty and support vulnerable communities.
• Digital transformation: aligning PAS’s technological vision with Malaysia’s broader Digital Malaysia strategy.

Implications for PN’s election strategy

The article details how PAS’s ascendancy will affect PN’s campaign plans. In a interview with The Star (linked within the article), a PN strategist noted that the coalition will now re‑prioritize messaging around “Islamic governance with a modern twist.” This includes:

• Urban outreach: leveraging social media campaigns to appeal to younger voters, emphasizing technology and innovation rooted in Islamic ethics.
• Rural focus: promoting PAS’s traditional rural development programs—water conservation, community farming, and halal certification for local businesses.

Moreover, the coalition’s new policy platform, unveiled in a joint press release (link provided in the article), highlights a “People‑Centred Development” framework that includes:

• A 10 % increase in public sector wages over the next five years.
• A national insurance scheme covering health, education, and retirement, to be financed partly through a Sharia‑compliant fund.
• A tax incentive package for SMEs that adopt halal standards.

How this shift affects the broader political landscape

The article contextualizes PAS’s newfound prominence by referencing the withdrawal of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) from PN in early 2025, a move that left Bersatu with a reduced seat count in Parliament. Analysts quoted in the piece argue that PAS’s leadership is partly a response to this vacuum; it provides a cohesive ideological anchor that can compensate for the loss of the traditional Malay‑ethnic voting bloc that UMNO once offered.

Additionally, the article touches on the relationship between PN and other coalitions. It cites a recent comment from Ahmad Zahid in The Malay Mail that underscores the importance of “strategic partnerships” with Gagasan Rakyat and PAS’s own regional allies such as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Rakyat Sabah (PRS). This inter‑coalition cooperation could broaden PN’s electoral base beyond Malay‑Muslim voters, potentially attracting Chinese and Indian minorities through a platform that promotes social harmony within an Islamic framework.

Key takeaways

1. PAS is now the strategic core of PN – the party’s increased influence is a result of its growing membership, electoral successes, and policy innovation.
2. Policy priorities are shifting toward a blend of Islamic values and modern governance, with a focus on finance, education, welfare, and digitalization.
3. Coalition dynamics are evolving – the departure of UMNO has left a gap that PAS aims to fill, while PN seeks to strengthen ties with regional parties to maintain a competitive edge in GE2025.
4. Voter outreach is re‑imagined – urban and rural strategies are being redesigned to capitalize on PAS’s messaging about a “just, equitable, and Islamic Malaysia.”
5. The broader implications for Malaysia’s political trajectory include a more pronounced Islamic influence in national policy, coupled with efforts to maintain inclusivity in a multiracial society.

Free Malaysia Today concludes the article with a call for continued transparency and accountability within PN, reminding readers that the coalition’s “main pillar” status does not negate the need for open debate, democratic processes, and respect for minority rights.

This summary was compiled from the original Free Malaysia Today article dated 21 September 2025, including quotes, linked press releases, and referenced commentary from other Malaysian news outlets.