PAS’ flirtations with Umno could jeopardise PR ties
Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge
After its surprising performance in the last general election, PAS has to re-evaluate its place in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and whether a partnership with Umno is still tenable, said analysts.
In addition, they said that the Islamic party's "talks" with Umno will have significant bearing on the coalition and PAS' future.
The controversial PAS-Umno "unity government" suggestion had dominated PAS' annual assembly last weekend. And party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa's insistence that "the party was open to talks" has fuelled more speculation about the party's future direction.
Political analyst Dr Ooi Kee Beng said PAS could potentially "lower the level of trust dramatically" within the opposition alliance if it enters into talks with Umno alone.
Such discussions, Ooi said, should be conducted under the PR banner.
PR and BN have recently flirted with the possibility of discussions to resolve the political stalemate in Perak although both sides have yet to meet.
"The main question now is: where does PAS see itself in this constellation between Umno on one side and PKR and DAP on the other?
"PAS is caught between a rock and a hard place as it still has to take a stand. It is a complicated creature we are dealing with," said Ooi, who is a fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS).
Ooi said there also exists a split in PAS on the party's political direction and ideology.
"There is a side of PAS that is willing to play opposition mainstream politics while some others (in the party) may not care too much about election politics but prefer to remain true to the PAS original struggle, which is deeply rooted in Islam," Ooi said.
PAS now needed to reformulate its goals and ambitions while bearing in mind that Malaysia is a pluralistic country, Ooi said.
"People want to accept PAS. And if it does not use too much religion-speak, it actually gains popularity," he said.
Moving forward, Ooi said the allocation of seats between the three PR parties in the next general election would be a key problem for the coalition because now "it is possible to win".
UKM's Associate Professor of Political Science Prof Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said any move to form a PAS-Umno government would likely split PAS as it was evident from its muktamar (conference) debates that delegates were unreceptive to the idea.
"The way for PAS is to remain with Pakatan. If they leave, that's the end but if they stick with Pakatan, this is the government in waiting," Agus said.
However, another political observer pointed out that PR was a "post-election arrangement" and it is uncertain how people will vote if DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PAS were to contest under the PR banner during the next general election.
The observer, who declined to be named, said PAS was at the stage where it was asking "Where do we stand in the new scenario?" and that it did not want to be seen as "the junior party" in PR or subservient to PKR. "This is a trying moment for Pakatan. They have to sort things out," he said.
On "unity government" talks, the observer said it was difficult to say if such discussions would continue amidst public pressure. "My own impression is that there are serious problems, for example the scenario in Perak, that suggest straining of ties with Umno," he said.
PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had issued reminders of how PAS had been "played out" by Umno in 1974 when the two parties entered into an arrangement in Kelantan, the observer said.
