Speaking at the 2026 Umno General Assembly on September 12, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan — widely known as Tok Mat — issued a direct challenge to PAS, calling on the Islamist party to demonstrate its commitment to Malay unity through concrete power-sharing, not rhetoric.
Mohamad proposed that Umno push for snap elections in one of the four Perikatan Nasional-governed states to determine whether PAS is genuinely prepared to share political power on equal terms ahead of the 16th general election (GE16).
## Snap Election Proposal Targets PAS-Held States as a Litmus Test for Political SincerityMohamad trained his sights on what he called the “SG4” bloc — the four state governments currently under PAS control: Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis. Speaking during his winding-up address at the assembly, he urged Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to act on the proposal following the conclusion of the Melaka state election.
“So, after the Melaka polls, I want to ask the president to test the sincerity of our friends. Ask them to hold elections in one of the SG4 states,” Mohamad said.
The proposal carries a clear political logic: if PAS truly endorses a framework of Malay unity under a shared coalition, triggering an early state election would allow both parties to negotiate and contest under a coordinated arrangement — revealing, in practice, whether the partnership is one of equals.
## Equal Split Formula Proposed: Two States Each as the Baseline for a Credible AllianceMohamad’s preferred power-sharing formula is unambiguous. He outlined a model in which, of the four PAS-governed states, two would remain under PAS and two would be contested by and allocated to Umno — a 50-50 division that he framed as the minimum acceptable expression of genuine political partnership.
“If they are really sincere about uniting the Malays, let us see what formula they would resort to. Our choice would be one for you, one for me. So, from the four states, two should be for them, two for us,” he said.
The formulation reflects growing sentiment within Umno that the party has historically conceded too much ground in coalition arrangements without securing reciprocal commitments. Barisan Nasional, led by Umno, currently governs Negeri Sembilan in partnership with PAS — with Umno holding 18 state seats compared to PAS’s seven, a ratio that makes the proposed equal split in SG4 states a notably ambitious benchmark.
## Melaka Seat Negotiations Draw Direct Caution Against Dignity-Compromising ConcessionsBeyond the PAS challenge, Mohamad used his assembly address to send a pointed message to Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh regarding the upcoming state election cycle. The Melaka state assembly’s term expires in December 2026, though Ab Rauf has indicated the possibility of an early dissolution.
Mohamad’s instruction to Ab Rauf was direct: negotiate seat allocations with coalition partners without yielding Umno’s dignity in the process.
“Umno has never relied on the sympathy of other people. So, Umno needs to build its own strength without banking on other parties,” he said — a remark interpreted as a broader warning against the party becoming dependent on goodwill from political allies rather than its own electoral muscle.
## Era of Single-Party Dominance Is Over, but Coalition Terms Must Reflect Equal StandingMohamad acknowledged the structural reality of contemporary Malaysian politics: the era of any single party commanding outright majorities has passed. Multi-party coalitions are now the governing norm at both the federal and state levels. However, he argued that this reality should not translate into Umno accepting unfavourable terms simply to preserve an alliance.
The remarks come at a politically charged moment. Zahid, in his own closing address at the same assembly, declared that the door for Umno-PAS cooperation ahead of GE16 is “wide open” and called for a million-strong Malay unity rally. That overarching message of reconciliation now sits alongside Mohamad’s harder-edged demand for a concrete, verifiable test of PAS’s intent — creating a dual-track signal from Umno’s top two leaders.
Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, for his part, has indicated there is no urgency to call GE16 early, noting that the Anwar administration’s mandate runs until February 2028.
## Key Takeaways from Tok Mat’s Assembly Address- Snap election test: Mohamad called for Umno to request early polls in one of the four PAS-governed states — Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah or Perlis — after the Melaka election concludes.
- 50-50 formula: He proposed a two-states-each split as the baseline for any credible Umno-PAS power-sharing arrangement in the SG4 bloc.
- Melaka warning: Mohamad cautioned Melaka Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh against seat negotiations that compromise Umno’s standing, with the state assembly term set to expire in December 2026.
- Self-reliance doctrine: He stressed that Umno must strengthen itself independently rather than depend on the generosity or sympathy of coalition partners.
- Dual signals from Umno leadership: Zahid’s “wide open” door for Umno-PAS cooperation and Mohamad’s concrete test proposal together reflect both the ambition and the conditionality attached to any renewed partnership.
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