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After suffering setbacks in Sabah and Johor, Bersatu enters the Negeri Sembilan state election facing another crucial test — one that could confirmed whether the party still holds influence among voters, particularly the Malay electorate.
Political analyst and Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said Bersatu’s decision to contest eight seats against fellow Perikatan Nasional (PN) allies PAS and Wawasan reflects the party’s urgent need to prove it remains politically relevant.
READ MORE: Bersatu Fighting For Survival In Negeri Sembilan As Party Seeks To Prove Its Relevance
He described the contests as an internal referendum on whether Bersatu still possesses an independent electoral base or whether its previous successes were largely driven by the PN brand, PAS’ grassroots machinery and coalition cooperation.
“The eight direct clashes with PAS and Wawasan amount to an internal referendum on whether Bersatu still possesses an independent electoral base or whether its previous support depended heavily on the PN logo, PAS machinery and coalition discipline.
“If Bersatu fails to win any of the eight seats and finishes a distant third in most contests, it would reinforce the argument that the party no longer commands a distinctive voter base,” he told TRP.
READ MORE: PN Wants To Ditch Voter Confusion, But Might Create Pronunciation Confusion Instead
Without hesitation, Mohammad Tawfik said the Negeri Sembilan election could become a make-or-break moment for Bersatu’s political relevance and bargaining power.
“Its negotiating position over seats, coalition leadership and candidacies ahead of the next general election would weaken considerably.
“It could also accelerate leadership departures, defections and pressure for Bersatu either to merge with another party or accept a much smaller role within any future opposition arrangement,” he said.
Bersatu’s current struggles come after a turbulent period within the party, which saw several senior leaders either sacked or suspended over alleged breaches of party discipline, including accusations of attempts to challenge party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership.
READ MORE: Woeful Weekend For Bersatu As Party Faces Leadership Crisis
Among the biggest casualties was former Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin. Despite his removal from the party, Hamzah regained his position as Opposition Leader and has since emerged as a key political figure in PN after taking over an existing party, which was later rebranded as Wawasan.
While not ruling out the possibility of future reconciliation between Bersatu and PN, Mohammad Tawfik believes the party must consider a major political reset if it wants to survive.
“With the absence of any meaningful reforms to date, the party should seriously consider whether dissolution or a merger with another party would offer a more viable future,” he said.
For Bersatu, the Negeri Sembilan polls are no longer merely about winning seats — they are about proving whether the party can still stand on its own or whether its political future depends on a larger coalition structure.
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