Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said PN’s decision to form electoral pacts with external parties instead of making them components was an effort to strike a balance between Bersatu and Hazmah.

She said this would allow PN, currently led by PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, to negotiate electoral pacts with political parties, even an entity linked to Hamzah.

“PN wants to maintain the coalition’s stability at this time, and that hinges heavily on PAS and Bersatu’s relationship.

“As an important party in PN, Bersatu would surely have veto powers and would not want Hamzah to make any return to PN. If that happens, his sacking would be rendered meaningless,” she told FMT.

Syaza added that Bersatu would be pressured into accepting a PN electoral pact with Hamzah’s faction, as not doing so would lead to clashes at the polls and a split in support.

Multiple parties have applied to become PN components, including Mukhriz Mahathir’s Pejuang, Ibrahim Ali’s Putra, and Berjasa, which, according to rumour, will be taken over by Hamzah.

On Saturday, Samsuri said PN had agreed to form electoral pacts with parties that shared common interests with the coalition or wanted to be a strategic partner without becoming a PN component.

Berita Harian reported that Bersatu representatives in the PN Supreme Council protested admitting new components for fear that Hamzah might join one of the parties applying to join the coalition.

PN currently comprises PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan, and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party.

Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said this formula might ensure stability in the short term but would bar PN from adding new components and strengthening the coalition.

Azmi added that Bersatu’s opposition towards admitting new PN components showed that Hamzah and his faction were still a major concern for Muhyiddin Yassin and his party.

Hamzah was sacked by Bersatu in February at the height of a fierce leadership tussle with Muhyiddin, the party president.