The Gagasan Sejahtera (English: Ideas of Prosperity, abbrev: GS) was a coalition of opposition Islamist political parties which promote the "ideas of peace" in Malaysia. The informal electoral pact was formed initially on 16 March 2016 by Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (IKATAN) as a Third Force to face both ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions in the upcoming 2018 Malaysian general election (GE14).[1][2][3] It had announced on 13 August 2016 the pact to be formally called Gagasan Sejahtera.[4][5]Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA) had later joined the coalition on 23 September 2016.[6] The formation of the alliance brought criticism from both the main coalitions of BN and PH.[7]
Gagasan Sejahtera is also considered a successor to the dissolved opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition which PAS had been a part of it formerly[8] and PH being the other one new coalition which PAS decided not joining.[9] The main campaign of the alliance focuses mainly on PAS political agenda and uniting Malay Muslims matters,[10][11] while upholding democracy as the best way to govern the country.[12][13]
In May 2018, the Gagasan Sejahtera pact of the three opposition parties led by PAS as the core mover, along with minor parties IKATAN and BERJASA finally contested using the PAS logo the GE14, but only PAS won seats in the election, securing 18.[N 1][13] IKATAN was allotted to field candidates in five non-Muslim seats in Selangor,[15] while BERJASA was given 'unwinnable' seats.[16][17][18] Both parties failed to win any of the seats, with all of their candidates losing their deposits.[19] BERJASA for the reason had left tacitly the alliance to contest 2019 Tanjung Piai by-election on its own ticket as PAS and GS supported BN instead of BERJASA recontesting by its president as candidate.[20]
^In the 2018 balloting, the party formed the Ideas of Prosperity (Gagasan Sejahtera - GS) coalition with the Malaysia National Alliance Party (Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia - IKATAN) The Pas joined the 2020 coalition government.[14]
