PAS' strategic move to create a 'third force' political coalition will have an impact on the electoral influence of Pakatan Harapan, says political analyst Ahmad Atory Hussein.

According to him, the setting up of the new opposition bloc may be a tactic to split the votes amongst Malay voters who are disappointed with Umno.

"I believe that the formulation of PAS' strategy is indirectly linked to its perceived cooperation with Umno.

"It is based on the current political scenario whereby PAS is getting cozy with Umno via the goodwill between their two presidents," he told Malaysiakini .

He was commenting on earlier news, when the Islamic party's secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan announced that PAS will form a new opposition bloc in alliance with a multiracial party and NGOs this coming Mar 16.

Ahmad Atory said that the PAS decision will enable the party to continue its political survival after falling out with its former opposition allies.

"They are at odds with DAP and Amanah (Parti Amanah Negara), I observe that there is covert cooperation between Umno and PAS as they now share a common enemy, which is Harapan.

"PAS' move will affect their splinter party Amanah, as it may see some of the voters who are disappointed with Umno's internal politics now voting for the Islamic party," he said.

Ahmad Atory added that Harapan will soon feel the heat if the new opposition bloc materialises and chips away at its Malay support.

Meanwhile, National Professors’ Council (MPN) politics, international affairs and security cluster chief Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said that how far PAS' new opposition coalition will go will depend on who its political partner is going to be and how it can help attract non-Malay votes.

He said the party which is chosen by PAS will determine the political mileage that the new coalition will have compared to Harapan, which is an amalgam of PKR, DAP, and Amanah.

"This is because PAS' challenge is to break the voting patterns among non-Malay voters which is now mainly supporting the DAP. If the party chosen by PAS is capable, then it will form a formidable team.

"The reason is PAS only commands votes in Malay areas where it will have to face off with Umno, but the situation now differs as it is on its own after refusing to join Harapan.

"So PAS must find ways to attract non-Malay votes, especially in areas with 60 percent Malay voters. Though (these are) areas with Malay majority, the vote usually swings Umno's way.

With that in mind, Mustafa said if PAS wants to retain the influence that it now holds, it needs to depend more on non-Malay voters in the coming national polls.

"This will influence PAS in forming the coalition as it will affect its chances of facing DAP," he said.