This study examines the dynamics of two major Malay-Islamic political parties in Malaysia, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) within the country’s political context from 2008 to 2018. This period marked a significant shift in Malaysia’s political landscape, particularly after the 12th General Election (GE-12) in 2008, which saw a decline in the dominance of Barisan Nasional (BN) and the rise of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as a viable alternative coalition. The study adopts a qualitative research design through literature review. It analyses various academic studies, journal articles, political speeches, and election results to understand the changing strategies and relationships between UMNO and PAS. The findings indicate that UMNO, as the core party of BN, faced major challenges in retaining traditional Malay voter support, while PAS grappled with the dilemma of maintaining a conservative Islamist stance or cooperating with secular-leaning political parties. Competition for Malay-Muslim voter support, religious issues, and shifts in political dynamics were key factors influencing the relationship between the two parties. This research provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of UMNO-PAS relations and its implications for the future of Malay-Islamic politics in Malaysia. The period from 2008 to 2018 is identified as a pivotal era in the nation’s political transformation, with both UMNO and PAS playing significant roles in shaping the modern Malay-Islamic political narrative.
Azmi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.