Now with the dust settled, did PAS move forward or back?
Against a backdrop of such insincerity and treachery, the best insurance for voters is to choose a party that won’t hesitate to break away even from a vote-winning coalition, if staying means having to sell out.
By Wong Choon Mei, Suara Keadilan
Since PAS began its annual congress cum election mid last week, a flurry of accusations and counter-accusations were raised.
Within the party, the blows came fast and furious as members postured ahead of bi-annual internal polls.
Coalitions members DAP and PKR were not spared either as loyal PAS members also used the occasion to leverage for seat allocations and other rights.
It also promised to widen its doors to non-Muslims by establishing a wing for its multi-racial Supporters Club.
But most sensational of all were the missiles directed at arch-enemy Umno.
Not all these were weapons of mass destruction, some were actually messages of love or some form of that emotion, as witness the unity government proposals from PAS president Hadi Awang.
As expected, the hot topic sparked heated and vociferous debate. Indeed, much has been spoken and written about it, especially by the Umno-controlled press who use it to drive a wedge between the Pakatan partners.
Yet somehow Hadi again managed to get away without detailing exactly what it meant! Of course, there were vague references to Islam, issues of common interest and at one point, even the MACC was mentioned!
But to some pundits, it was also the Islamic party’s own way of reassuring its still mostly-Malay-electorate that it would not forsake them. The community has already been promised the world by Umno, the country’s biggest Malay party that PAS has vowed to overtake.
What you see is seldom what you get
Politics is a complex game. For any party to get to its final destination without sacrificing its main causes or rationale for existence – as promised to voters – is never easy especially in multi-racial Malaysia, where communal sentiments are still so easy to manipulate.
Against a backdrop of such insincerity and treachery, the best insurance for voters is to choose a party that won’t hesitate to break away even from a vote-winning coalition, if staying means having to sell out.
For the coalition itself – having components that insist on such high moral ground is a boon. Provided of course that the partners are strong and led by politically matured and savvy leaders. Otherwise, it would implode easily.
In the Malaysia of the past, religious extremism was the big bogeyman. Racism is now the greatest danger.
Not just because the country is more polarised than before, thanks to five decades of communal politics pushed by the Umno-BN. But more dangerously so, because racism is now Prime Minister Najib Razak’s No 1 top strategy.
It is his only hope left for retaining the Malay vote and staving off the Pakatan.
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Suara Keadilan has appended below comments made by key leaders compiled from various media since the PAS annual congress began last Wednesday and leaves it to voters to gauge for themselves if the Pakatan can survive and if its fight for a just and equitable Malaysia can endure.
Nik Aziz Nik Mat, PAS spiritual adviser
There is no need to talk to Umno about all this unity government nonsense, it is rubbish. Those who speak of co-operation with Umno are definitely oblivious to its cruelty and we in Kelantan know this.
Umno is evil. The Umno-led federal government talks of 1 Malaysia but they instructed their officers not to co-operate with those who work with the PAS Kelantan government. This is Umno. We must obliterate them once and for all. Rid this earth of their kind.
PAS should not have any discussion with Umno, and Umno should not have any with PAS. Our goal is to spread Islam and not to contest to see who leads and who follows.
It is not just about sentiments but this strategy is not suitable for PAS as PAS would seem supplementary to Umno.
Abdul Hadi Awang, returned unopposed as PAS president
Even PKR and DAP agree about the unity government talks because they feel that whatever is good for the rakyat should be prioritised. I thank those in PR who understand about the talks to unite the rakyat and all political parties.
Umno claims to be Islamic, so there is nothing wrong with engaging them. What cannot be done today doesn’t mean it cannot be done in the future.
Lim Kit Siang, DAP adviser
I do not know what Hadi actually said, but in view of the public interest on the question of “unity talks”, I have two comments while making the general observation that political parties and political leaders must be prepared to talk to anyone on any issue concerning public interest, viz:
Firstly, that the question of unity talk to form a Pakatan Rakyat-Barisan Nasional government never arose or discussed at any Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting.
Secondly, on the so-called unity talks to form Umno-Pas government, it is something I read in the media. The subject was never discussed or raised in any PR leadership meeting.
Azmin Ali, PKR vice-president
We can have discussions with anyone but not to form a unity government.
Nasharudin Mat Isa, retained his deputy presidency after a three-man contest
I have to reiterate that PAS joining Umno is a non-issue as we are only concentrating only on discussions. Besides that, we are open to discussions regardless of who they are. If MIC wants to talk to us, we would welcome it.
We have an open attitude when it comes to holding discussions and we did not specify with whom. If MIC wants to discuss with us, we do not have any problem. If the problematic PPP wants to discuss and join Pakatan Rakyat then we welcome them to join.
We practice the principle of rights. That is why the muktamar is held in the first place where they could debate just about anything on everything to gather different viewpoints so as to determine the direction of the party.
Even now, we don’t have any concrete decision on these talks with Umno. It is a very general statement and not at all specific and I will leave it to the party to decide. They have been our political enemies but that does not mean that we should shut the door for us to have a dialogue on issues related to the benefit of the people and the nation.
It is not about sharing power and not about going to form a unity government, that is not the issue. But of course, it does not mean sharing power. It is about coming out with issues such as discussing about the betterment of the current judicial crisis or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. We can start from there. There are many current issues which need to be settled and answered. We think that being a major political organisation, we can contribute by trying to make an impact on the nation.
Husam was the vice president of the party for two years when I was the deputy and we have worked well together. There were committees that he headed and committees that I headed.
[Nash beat vice presidents Husam Musa and Mohamad Sabu for the No 2 post. PAS is expected to meet on Wednesday and discuss if new positions for Husam and Mat Sabu will be opened]
Husam Musa, ex-vice president and losing aspirant for the No 2 post
I don’t understand how it can happen. In England, there were times when no single party had a majority. But Umno holds the majority here and it is not the BN government that is offering to form a unity government. It is the opposition, PAS, that is suggesting it.
I expected to lose to Nasharudin because I did not undertake an aggressive campaign and if you have noticed there were too many elements that were against me, including party members who held their own views.
Maybe my beard is not long enough or maybe the delegates don’t prefer me. The underlying factor is me.
Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof, deputy chief PAS Women’s wing
PAS can survive on its own without having to depend on or being taken for a ride by Umno. We do not want any negative elements to grow in the party.
Vincent Lee, PAS Supporters Club deputy chairman
The 13th general election will be a do or die one. Hence, the Umno-BN will do anything to win, whether it’s halal or haram.
If this situation persists, the people will take the best way out, that is, not to vote for them anymore.
