Anwar, the Lone Ranger?
If the Malays from PAS and Umno coalesce via the Islamic binding factor, why then should the Malays in Pakatan be left out to suffer and not enjoy the various sweetened pies?
Narinder Singh, FMT
Is Pakatan Rakyat shrivelling away to the point that they may lose the momentum before the next general election?
With the recent moves made by their affiliate PAS in opening possibilities to Umno to form a united Malay stand in the country with Islam as the foundation and binding factor, Pakatan may well be losing their Malay support.
After all how many Malays have benefited under the Pakatan umbrella, and Anwar has definitely lost significant magnetism in keeping his loyal supporters.
Just take Khalid Ibrahim, the Selangor Menteri Besar for an example. Despite projecting a calm image on the front, it is obvious that he has broken ranks with his party boss, Anwar.
If there was one party that took on the tide and piggy-backed Pakatan in the last general election, it is the DAP. DAP knew that with the Malays backing Pakatan, it will be a golden opportunity to get their votes, especially in grey constituencies.
And that is what exactly happened. The so-called ultra-modern Malays, in particular young urbanites, were too carried away and bit the bait with all the various promises made by Pakatan for them.
It was crystal clear that the Chinese tsunami did turn the tables on Barisan Nasional. And it will be foolish to dream on that they will have a change of hearts come the next general election.
BN can kick MCA and Gerakan out for all you care as they will never in the next millennium be able to harness Chinese support back, no matter how much more money they throw to them.
Umno and the rest of their partners may well keep their voters happy in Sabah and Sarawak. Forget about the Chinese here. They are gone for good to the DAP, not even Pakatan.
As mentioned, Pakatan was just the initial catalyst that has outrun its own function by providing DAP the Chinese support.
Now, that brings us to ponder what will Pakatan do when they are basically left with only non-Umno Malay support?
The Malays in Pakatan will be compass-less and will eventually get steered out of the Umno- Bumiputera masterplan agenda radar if they hold on to their association with Pakatan for too long.
For one, Pakatan cannot sustain them on mere rhetoric and shallow agenda. Pakatan just does not have the financial means or they are just to stupidly and arrogantly stingy.
With PAS making in-roads and courting Umno, Pakatan will be left in a limbo because on one hand they do not want to be perceived as being too Islamist, hence their silence on the muzakarah between Umno and PAS; while on the other they are trying their level best to keep friendship with DAP.
