Hadi’s (temporary) promise
Secret meetings were in steady progress, but when this thing went into the ears of Nik Aziz, the infuriated spiritual leader called for an immediate halt so that the Pakatan state governments could be established smoothly.
By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily
The howling over the unity government has come to a temporary respite.
The three parties that make up Pakatan Rakyat have signed a paper rejecting any possibility of forming a unity government with UMNO, much to the despair of the conservative rightists and opportunists within PAS.
Hadi Awang and his "Malay-Muslim unity" team, including people like Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Mustafa Ali, are the initiators of the unity government concept.
They must be the feeling the tearing pain now that they are forced to sign this agreement personally.
Nevertheless, if anyone thinks the unity government is dead, he must be too optimistic.
The moment Pandora's box is opened and the evil spirit let out of it, it is next to impossible to get it contained again!
This is not the first time the issue of a coalition government has surfaced. As a matter of fact, it has already been planned in secret soon after the general elections last March.
Nasharuddin et al were in touch with the UMNO people, and the two parties were planning to set up coalition governments in Selangor and Perak while arrangements were made to get some PAS leaders taking up senior federal posts.
Secret meetings were in steady progress, but when this thing went into the ears of Nik Aziz, the infuriated spiritual leader called for an immediate halt so that the Pakatan state governments could be established smoothly.
Nasharuddin leapt into action again several months later, and it was said he was holding talks with UMNO again.
But the talks came at the wrong timing, as UMNO was in the midst of an Abdullah-to-Najib transition and was too preoccupied to heed Nasharuddin's proposal.
Moreover, PAS was preparing for the KT by-election. Under the pressure from the party and grassroots, the proponents of a unity government were crushed once again!
Hadi also signed an agreement at that time vowing to stand alongside Pakatan Rakyat.
Nonetheless, Hadi's promise did not last too long!
This time, emboldened by the victory in party elections, Hadi and his people were holding out their heads once again to send out signals to UMNO.
And UMNO has responded favourably!
If not because Nik Aziz is still in control, along with the grumbles from party grassroots, Hadi et al may not back off that readily.
But how along can Hadi's promise last this time?
With the defeat of the Erdogans in PAS, the powers to counter Hadi's gang are significantly weakened. While Nik Aziz is still ambitious, he is old and physically frail.
Hadi, Nasharuddin and Mustafa are dominating the party's central committee, plus Dr Harun Din lobbying hard in the ulama's camp, it wouldn't take them too long to jump into their next course of action!
The open-minded faction as well as partners in the opposition pact must be psychologically prepared to come up with more comprehensive and thorough counteraction strategies.
