Umno-PAS union may lead to victory in five states, ex-MCA chief says

By MT Webmaster On Dec 15, 2015

(Malay Mail Online) – Former MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has predicted that a pact between Umno and PAS can see both parties winning five Malay-majority states in the next election that are Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

The former leader of the Chinese component party in the 13-member Barisan Nasional (BN) pointed out that there are 54 federal seats in those states alone, amounting to a quarter of the 222-seat Parliament.

“What cannot be denied is that the cooperation between Umno and PAS will give them a higher chance of success in elections, especially in Malay constituencies,” Dr Chua wrote on his blog yesterday in Chinese.

“Therefore, it can be predicted that Umno and PAS will easily form government in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang,” he added.

Dr Chua warned non-Muslim BN component parties, namely MCA and Gerakan, that they would face serious tests should Malay ruling party Umno ally with Islamist opposition party PAS.

“If Umno’s and PAS’s cooperation is successful, that means political power will be controlled by Muslim leaders, especially in the respective states in peninsular Malaysia and in the federal government. As for BN’s non-Muslim members, they will be left on the fringes of mainstream politics,” he added.

Dr Chua said he expected Umno to back PAS in the Islamist party’s push to enforce hudud in Kelantan, but not at the federal level.

“Furthermore, Sabah and Sarawak will strongly oppose hudud, so the federal government will not implement it. Umno and BN cannot neglect feedback from Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak extended a hand of friendship to PAS at the recent Umno general assembly.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang responded in a press statement by saying that the Islamist party was committed to its alliance with PKR, but that it was open at the same time to teaming up with any political party for the sake of unity based on Islamic principles.