PAS will contest the upcoming Johor state election under its own party logo rather than the Perikatan Nasional banner, as the Islamist party pursues a new electoral alignment following its decision to sever ties with Bersatu.
Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed was quoted by The Star as saying the party was in discussions with several like-minded political parties for electoral cooperation, though any arrangement would take the form of an electoral pact rather than a formal coalition due to time constraints.
"PAS may use our logo, while the other parties will use their respective logos. Given the time constraints, it is not practical to establish a formal coalition at this stage," Mahfodz reportedly told reporters at the Johor PAS office on Tuesday night.
Mahfodz said Johor PAS fully supported the central leadership's decision to end political cooperation with Bersatu and would abide by any direction from party headquarters. He stressed that PAS would not contest the state election on its own, adding that the party was actively pursuing cooperation with like-minded parties through an electoral understanding aimed at avoiding clashes.
Seat allocation negotiations, he said, would be handled by PAS' central leadership, with discussions ongoing with several parties including Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and Berjasa.
On potential cooperation with Umno, Mahfodz said PAS remained open to rebuilding political unity, noting that the two parties had previously worked together under Muafakat Nasional, the now-defunct Malay-Muslim unity pact.
The Johor state assembly was dissolved on 8 June 2026 alongside Negeri Sembilan's, triggering state elections due within 60 days. PAS's decision to contest under its own logo marks a pragmatic shift that allows the party to maintain its distinct brand identity while exploring new alliances. The move signals the Islamist party's intent to carve an independent path following its rupture with Bersatu, a split that has fundamentally altered the opposition landscape ahead of two critical state polls widely seen as a bellwether for the 16th General Election.
Sources: The Star
