COMMENT | I am not going to predict the outcome of the Negeri Sembilan state election.

However, I would like to suggest a counter-intuitive impact of the state election on national politics: Pakatan Harapan voters may affect the viability of the Umno-PAS pact if they staunchly stick with Harapan, even if Umno and PAS can perfectly pool their votes.

How many peninsula seats needed for Putrajaya?

While Malaysia has 222 parliamentary seats, government formation would be determined in the peninsula, where 165 seats and 83 percent of voters are located, as the dominant parties are automatically guaranteed seats in the federal cabinet.

Sabah and Sarawak parties would have no problem embracing even a PAS prime minister if they are given a good deal of autonomy.