PAS torn between loyalty to Pakatan and supporting redelineation

By admin-s On Dec 22, 2014

(TMI) – PAS ‎is in a bind over whether to support Barisan Nasional (BN) in Parliament to allow the redelineation of parliamentary constituencies, or to stick by its allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who oppose the exercise.‎

Umno and BN need the Islamist party’s help to secure the elusive two-thirds majority needed to make the electoral boundary changes.

Currently, Umno and its coalition partners in BN have 134 parliamentary seats while the Islamist party has 21 seats.

The combined seats from PAS will help BN surpass the two-thirds majority of 148 seats to amend the constitution and redraw the electoral boundaries.

A source in the Islamist party said they would benefit from the additional seats in Malay-majority areas, particularly in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis‎, should the redelineation exercise take place.

He said the four states had not gained extra seats when the electoral boundaries were redrawn in 2003, adding that this was done to halt the party’s progress after it won big in the 1999 general election.‎

“PAS is now in a dilemma.‎ Ditelan mati emak, diluah mati bapa,” said a senior PAS leader, quoting a Malay phrase which meant facing a difficult situation.

He said if PAS were to cooperate with Umno in supporting the amendments to the Federal Constitution to enable the redelineation exercise, it would mean betraying its partners in PR.