Umno’s blitzkrieg and olive branch
Umno unleashed a two-pronged approach to paralyse PAS way ahead of the GE14.
(FMT) – PAS’ organisational structure is also modelled based on the administration of a Syiah majority nation – Iran.
The 67th Umno general assembly that ended last Saturday revealed that Umno is hurt due to the PAS-DAP alliance; as they battle to win the hearts and minds of the majority of the electorate – the Malays.
To overcome this, Umno has unleashed its two-pronged approach, similar to the carrot and stick strategy to totally paralyse PAS within the next five years before General Election 14 which is due in 2018.
Umno is using its carrot and stick approach via a blitzkrieg and an olive branch. It has given PAS two options based on Cold War mentality.
(Blitzkrieg refers to German’s attacking forces of dense concentration of mechanised infantry formations used during World War I.)
Umno’s message to PAS is: You are either with us or against us. The nationalist Umno is currently launching its blitzkrieg in its veiled anti-Syiah campaign.
PAS spiritual advisor Nik Aziz Nik Mat was spot on when he said that the anti-Syiah campaign the Umno vice president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced was an all out campaign against the minority Syiah community in PAS.
“Don’t claim yourselves as defenders of Islam by bashing the Syiah. The society is smart to assess that it is not the Syiah who are under attack but the opposition who are gaining more support,” said Nik Aziz in a statement that was put up on Monday.
“If one truly wants to eradicate them, just arrest them. The question here is how do you conduct the arrest when there are deviants within your own party,” added Nik Aziz, alluding to Umno leaders.
The reaction of Nik Aziz is similar to Umno vice president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s declaration that he would go all out against the Syiah.
Zahid’s attack
“We are surprised on how PAS can elect a Syiah as their number two leader,” said Ahmad Zahid
“(Minister in Prime Minister’s Department) Jamil Khir (Baharom), I empower you with the Home Ministry to take action,” Ahmad Zahid who is also the Home Minister said while delivering his wrap up speech at Umno’s 67th annual general.
Ahmad Zahid was hinting at PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu without naming him.
In a related development, Jamil had said that political leanings would not be a factor in curbing Syiah teachings.
While it is true that there are Syiah followers in both the Malay Muslim based parties, PAS would be most affected in the event of a clampdown on the community.
Majority of the Syiah community have tendencies to put an ‘X’ for PAS instead of Umno. They are also predominant in the Malay heartland states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Kedah where PAS is Umno’s biggest threat.
PAS’ organisational structure is also modelled based on the administration of a Syiah majority nation – Iran.
The Dewan Ulama within PAS was established during Yusof Rawa’s tenure as PAS’ president and spiritual adviser from October 1982 to March 1989. Prior to that Yusof was also Malaysia’s diplomat to Iran.
The blitzkrieg on PAS is vital to BN component parties because while PAS lost about seven percent of the Malay votes in the 13th general election, nevertheless it managed to created a stronghold in mixed constituencies such as Kota Raja, which was previously held by MIC.
To paraphrase an idiom, when General Umno sneezes, its BN lieutenants catches cold.
Umno’s olive branch
