BN allies cross arms even as Umno unfolds them to PAS

By admin-s On Aug 4, 2014

(MMO) – ‘There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies’

Barisan Nasional (BN) components are greeting the possibility of a potential new ally in PAS with reticence and suspicion, even as state leaders from lynchpin Umno expressed willingness to link up with the Islamist party in the prospect of regaining Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

The state Umno chapter has reacted positively to a PAS researcher’s “analysis” that included a tie-up between the two parties, stemming from long-running overtures to its rivals on the grounds of Malay and Muslim unity.

But such a collaboration would put other BN components in a dilemma. Attacks against PAS and its allies over the Islamist party’s goals of an Islamic state and the hudud penal code form a core strategy in their appeal to the non-Malay electorate.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai explained that any party was free to seek entry into BN, which he dubbed a “multi-racial and multi-religious” and “inclusive party”, but qualified this by saying this would need unanimous approval from all 13 BN components.

“As long as any party wants to join, we need to have a consensus [among BN allies] and as long as the party has the agreed with the philosophy and struggles of Barisan Nasional,” he told Malay Mail Online over the phone.

BN’s consensus system means any of the 13 parties can veto any decision brought before the coalition.

Liow added that it was vital to see the sincerity of “all parties” before MCA would commit on the possibility of cooperating with a new ally.

Gerakan national adviser Datuk Chang Ko Youn said it was premature to consider such a union with PAS, adding that such a marriage of convenience would be short-lived.

“If the combination of PAS and Umno will settle problems in Selangor, I think we are prepared to allow that to happen, but it’s only on a short term-solution,” he said referring to the water supply issues in the state as well as the development and the welfare of the people.

“But in the long run, in a form of tie-up in Selangor whereby Umno and PAS come together, it will not work for the long run.”

Unlike the guarded response of his more senior colleagues, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang outright rejected the possibility of co-operation with PAS.

“We are not like DAP, which will sacrifice principles to gain power. It’s not about winning the state. We have to think long term,” he told Malay Mail Online over the phone.

He added that working with the Islamist party would mean Gerakan has “foregone our principles”.