The formation of a political bloc between PAS and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan) is not the ideal third force that the country needs, said a political pundit.

What would be useful for Malaysia is an alternative coalition that appeals to those who reject race-based and religion-based politics, said political commentator Tang Ah Chai.

"A third force should fight for good governance and anti-corruption, instead of (using) the racial and religious discourse," he told Malaysiakini .

Looking at the situation, he said the new PAS and Ikatan partnership would not form a third force that can appeal to the general public.

Tang was commenting on the new bloc formed by both PAS and four-year-old Ikatan on Wednesday to face the next general elections.

He said the emphasis on governance issues would force all coalitions and parties engaged in Malaysian elections to shift their focus to nation building.

"We saw this (focus on good governance) in the initial stage of the Pakatan Rakyat administration (in Selangor and Penang)," he said.

However, it has come to a point that the distinctions between Pakatan Harapan-led state governments and BN government are less obvious, he added.

"Strictly speaking, Ikatan is still perceived as a Malay-based party rather than a multiracial party, as much as it wanted the people to think otherwise.

"Even when it formed a pact with PAS, the new bloc will still cause concern (among the non-Muslims) with PAS' hudud agenda.

"The new bloc only affects Malay politics; it will strengthen the support for PAS in both Terengganu and Kelantan," said Tang.

‘Mosquito party’

Previously, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan had said the new bloc will grow in time to match Pakatan Harapan, which is made up of PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Nasional (Amanah).

Tang is sceptical the "little-known mosquito party" - led by former Umno minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, a leader whom he said has outlived his time - will help PAS make inroads in non-Malay majority areas and in urban seats.

Independent pollster Merdeka Center’s executive director Ibrahim Suffian said the new bloc has very limited impact against both BN and Harapan.

"PAS does not win or lose in its relationship with Ikatan as it (Ikatan) is a small party and an insignificant one. At the end, they (voters) will still look at PAS - whether it can win support and make a difference in the next general elections.

"Unless the new bloc comes out with ideas that excite the people, then I would say it changes nothing. We do not even know what Ikatan stands for," he added.

He also said in the past one year, PAS has been putting out confusing statements on whether it supports Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The ideal third force mentioned by Tang, he said, can only be realised in the long term, as Malaysians who are quite conservative have rejected political blocs that disregard race and religion in its political ideology.

Voters are more familiar with the longstanding brands of BN, PKR, DAP, and PAS, stressed Ibrahim.

‘Wrong partner’

Meanwhile, National Professors’ Council’s politics, international affairs, and security cluster chief Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said PAS had chosen a "wrong partner", which has no national ground and not appealing to multiracial community.

It would have been better for PAS to work with Umno or PKR than with Ikatan, he said.

He foresees the new bloc will divide the Malay vote further, where middle-class Malays and youngsters may support PKR and DAP, while the rest spread their allegiance between Umno and PAS.

"Some Malays who are not happy with BN and Umno may support PAS and Harapan.

"So, we have to study carefully who will benefit if there is a split in Malay vote. I believe, DAP and PKR will benefit as the Chinese voters are solidly behind DAP and Harapan.

"BN will be in trouble then if Malay votes split. The worst case scenario is there will be a hung Parliament, where no party (coalition) garners the majority vote," he said.

BN holds a total 134 out of 222 parliament seats, with its biggest party Umno winning 88 constituencies.

Meanwhile, PAS' parliamentary seats have been reduced to 14 in September 2015, after the formation of Harapan.