Non-Malays fear that an Umno-PAS alliance will result in a Pakatan Harapan defeat

(FMT) – Well-known social worker and PSM politician Dr Michael Jeyakumar today warned that any formal political cooperation between Umno and PAS should worry Malay Muslims, saying both parties represent a conservative ideology that is not in tune with the times.

The former Sungai Siput MP said Malaysian Muslims should view with concern any attempt to take Malaysia to religious conservatism.

“Malays and Muslims should be afraid, because if Umno-PAS is in control of the federal government, what kind of ideology will they use for the Malay and Muslim communities?” he said when met at a labour forum here today.

A PAS and Umno alliance is likely to be formalised, with leaders from both parties negotiating their terms of engagement in a special joint committee formed recently.

PAS and Umno are the two largest Malay-based parties, but lost to the multiracial Pakatan Harapan coalition in the general election last year.

PAS currently rules Kelantan and Terengganu, while Umno has been relegated to Perlis and Pahang following its loss of federal power.

Jeyakumar said although PSM has differences with PH, the socialist party was more comfortable with the image of Islam brought by the coalition’s leaders.

“I feel more at ease with the ways of Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Dzulkefly Ahmad,” he said, referring to the two Amanah leaders who are part of the Cabinet.

He said PSM still prefers PH to be in charge.

“If PH loses and Umno-PAS takes over, for Malaysians, it is a backward move,” he said.

Yesterday, MCA expressed its familiar reservations over a possible Umno-PAS alliance, while MIC said it had no problem working with the Islamist party.

Umno’s acting president Mohamad Hasan has several times assured that the union with PAS would not threaten non-Malays.

Today, Mohamad reportedly said that both parties were in talks to form unity governments in the four states they govern.

Jeyakumar said PH should work hard to convince the Malays who fear the coalition is not able to defend the community.

He said the government should find economic solutions to issues affecting Malays.

“The government must resolve the poverty problem among the bottom 40 (B40) group, as there are more Malays in the B40 group compared to other races.”