PAS is a party at odds with itself. Party president Abdul Hadi Awang, who once commanded a united front of conservatives against progressive elements, now presides over a divided field over the issue of PAS’ newfound friendship with Umno.

PAS and Umno have attempted to form a political collaboration before, but the enterprise left the late spiritual leader of the party, Tok Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Mat, disgusted with Malaysia’s most powerful political party. This sentiment is still largely shared by the party’s grassroots. A PAS insider recently told FMT that about 70% were opposed to such a move, and that he himself would leave the party if a formal collaboration was established.

The chief voice of that dissension is Hadi’s deputy, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, whose take on the idea of cooperation with Umno was recently expressed in these words: “It is impossible for PAS to work with Umno, a party that, from its inception up to now, has been oppressing and inflicting injustices on PAS members and its leadership.” While Hadi has gone on his merry way attacking the DAP and the Chinese community over imagined slights, Tuan Ibrahim has kept his eye on the ruling party to continue calling it out over several issues.

The marriage between PAS and Umno cannot possibly go ahead without the blessing of the Deputy President, especially when he has a large section of the grassroots with him. And a house divided can only stand against itself. This means that Hadi can bluster and call for assemblies as much as he wants, but until he presents a case for cooperation that all of PAS can agree on, it does not look like Umno will cease being an enemy to most members of the party.

Tuan Ibrahim has also declared that PAS would not relinquish seats for the sake of any ally, Umno included if it somehow becomes an ally. Considering that some analysts are predicting PAS and Umno will appeal to entirely different subdivisions of the Malay electorate, this means that Umno will be dragged into three corner fights all over the country. While PAS may not significantly split the vote in many constituencies, it will raise complications for the strategy planners of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.

PAS is a house divided. Until Hadi justifies his aspirations in a meaningful way, the many party members opposed to Umno will maintain their position. This will be despite the prodding from Hadi to direct all venom at DAP and Amanah. If he pushes ahead with his agenda, he’ll likely be doing it virtually alone.