Mission critical for Pakatan

By Himanshu Bhatt, The Sun

IT was perhaps no coincidence that newly crowned deputy president of PKR, Azmin Ali, made a brash assertion this week on the national Opposition’s stand on Sarawak. If the Pakatan Rakyat coalition takes over the federal government, he said, it would ensure full autonomy for the state.

Azmin’s statement must come as a precursor to Pakatan’s national convention on Sunday in Kepala Batas, Penang. Representatives of foreign embassies and international media are scheduled to descend on the quiet town in the mainland to see how the coalition is faring – particularly the relationship between the secular DAP and Islamist PAS.

Observers will be keen to ascertain how Pakatan’s chances are likely to be in the general election expected to be held early next year.

Significantly, a key aspect among the outcomes of the convention may be a resolution to respect the jurisdictions of states and the federal government – particularly in light of constitutional powers historically assured to Sabah and Sarawak. The two states are critical for both the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan in the battle for control of Parliament. And just like Azmin’s grand promise on autonomy for Sarawak, a concrete and impressive stand on the status of the two states would play a vital role for the Pakatan as it faces the elections there.

For most people, the next election is expected to be the most even of the last few decades, at least in terms of chances of victory; particularly in light of the March 8 “political tsunami” of 2008.

So it is imperative for Pakatan that it expands on the resolutions and stands that were only agreed on cursorily during the convention in Shah Alam last year.

One can expect the convention to produce definitive policy agreements on important issues like education, welfare and economy. One can also expect stands on minimum wage, which would obviously impress the millions of low-income voters; on issues like independence of judiciary and freedom of the press; on corruption; on measures for transparency; and the abolition of the Internal Security Act.

Strategically, the convention will take great pains to commit towards fostering unity and the inter-relationship between races – even as it reinforces a united stand on Islam and Malays.

The idea is to counter any intention by political opponents that accuse PKR and DAP of wanting to weaken the position of Malays and the royalty; while giving confidence to non-Muslims that their rights would be well protected and respected even with Islamic PAS in the Pakatan.

So a key focus will be to reinforce Article 3 of Federal Constitution – on Islam being the official religion while citizens of other faiths maintain the right and freedom to practise; that Malay language be upheld as the national “bahasa”; and the special position of the Malays be guaranteed.

Under the circumstances, it would be the best and most obvious balance that the DAP and PAS can find, even as one espouses a secular state while the other is bent on setting up Islamic rule.

One can also expect quite a bit of fanfare and display of goodwill – there will be multiracial parade that will include ethnic costumes and representations of Sabah and Sarawak, and the peninsular Orang Asli.

Even the new Pakatan slogan that will be unveiled – “Ubah Sekarang” (Change Now) – rings with the image of the parties revving their engines for the general election. Indeed, the policies asserted in the convention will lay the groundwork for the coalition’s manifesto and campaign thrust in the election. If ever there will be an election period that would be a nail-biter, this will be it.

But with all the expected flourish, one will be still left to wonder if that would be enough to help the Pakatan dethrone the current federal government, a feat not seen in the history of this country.